May 14, 2004
ANN ARBOR, MI – The University of Iowa softball team was eliminated from the 2004 Big Ten Tournament by the sixth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes Friday, 5-1.
Ohio State’s Kristi DeVries threw a seven-inning, one-hit gem to pick up the win for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first off a two-run double from DeVries. Lisa Birocci walked the first batter of the game, Karisa Evans, and Megan Schwab reached on an error to set the table for DeVries.
The Buckeyes added another run in the second when Chelsea Baker led off with a single and scored on an RBI groundout off the bat of Evans.
Three-straight singles in the top of the third forced Iowa to make a pitching change, and Ali Arnold came in to replace Birocci. Arnold got two quick outs to get out of the jam.
In the top of the fourth, Ohio State loaded the bases with one out and got an RBI single from Schwab to make the score 4-0. Arnold then got Jamee Juarez to ground into a 5-2-3 double play to prevent any further damage.
A pair of walks and a bloop double to left gave the Buckeyes another run and a 5-0 lead in the top of the fifth.
Emily Gerlick broke up the no-hitter in the bottom of the sixth with a rocket shot over the left field fence. The home run was Gerlick’s fifth of the season, tying her with Birocci and Natalie Johnson for the team lead.
Just before the start of the bottom of the seventh, lighting caused a 30-minute stoppage of play.
The Hawkeyes (38-22, 16-4) will await the NCAA Regional Selection show Sunday night at 7 p.m. to see if they are given an at large bid.