March 16, 2005
STOCKTON, CA – The University of Iowa softball team won a pair of games Wednesday, defeating Rhode Island (6-0) and Pacific (4-2) at the Pacific Mini Tournament held at Bill Simoni Field.
Iowa received an outstanding pitching performance from junior Ali Arnold. Arnold threw her first career no-hitter, striking out 11 batters and walking only one in seven innings of work. The victory improves Arnold’s record to 8-1 this season.
The game was scoreless through four, until Iowa plated three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Senior Abby Ruff scored the first run on a sophomore Mindy Heidgerken double up the middle. Freshman Summer Downs followed with a two-run homerun over the left field fence on the first pitch to give the Hawkeyes a 3-0 advantage. Iowa collected six singles to score its final three runs; recording RBIs in the inning were freshman Stephanie Ackerson, junior Stacy May and Downs. Downs finished the game 2-of-4 with three RBI. The Hawkeyes registered 11 hits in the contest.
In game two, Iowa scored the game’s first run in the top of the fourth against Pacific. Sophomore Sami Baugh connected on a 1-2 pitch and sent the ball over the left field fence for her third round-tripper of the season. In the top of the fifth, Lisa Birocci plated sophomore Jenna Spratt. Heidgerken followed with a homerun to left on the first pitch, giving the Hawkeyes a 4-0 advantage. Baugh was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Pacific (12-9) scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but Iowa hurler Lisa Birocci yielded only one hit the remainder of the game to cement her 12th win of the season. Birocci fanned three en route to victory.
Iowa (21-4) will play Utah (8-12) Thursday at 3 p.m. (CST) on the campus of Pacific.
Game SummaryRhode Island 000 000 0 - 0 0 1Iowa 000 033 x - 6 11 1
WP - Ali Arnold (8-1)LP - Chelsae Wolfe (0-3)
Game SummaryIowa 000 130 0 - 4 6 0Pacific 000 020 0 - 2 7 0
WP - Lisa Birocci (12-3)LP - Natalie King (7-4)="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>