April 16, 2005
Columbus, OH – The University of Iowa softball team scored six unanswered runs to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, 6-2. The Hawkeyes improved their record to 35-9 overall and 6-4 in the Big Ten with the series sweep on Saturday.
Ohio State jumped out to an early lead in the top half of the first. Christina Douglas hit a two-run double to right center to put the Buckeyes up, 2-0.
Iowa responded with a three-run third inning. Mindy Heidgerken started the inning off with a double and Jenna Spratt beat out a bunt down the third base line, advancing Heidgerken to third. Spratt then stole second and Stacy May followed with a double to left field, scoring Heidgerken and Spratt to tie the game. After an Ohio State pitching change, Kylie Murray singled, scoring Spratt to give Iowa its first lead of the game, 3-2.
The Hawkeyes added two more runs in the fourth when Natalie Johnson scored on a fielding error off the bat of May and Lisa Birocci scored on a fielder’s choice.
The Hawkeyes scored the final run of the contest in the fifth. Emily Nichols led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Sami Baugh. Brandi Sargent walked, forcing the Buckeyes to make their second pitching change on the afternoon. Birocci reached first on a fielding error by the Ohio State third baseman and Nichols scored on the play.
Spratt and May led the Hawkeyes offensively. Spratt was 2-2 with a run scored while May went 1-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
Ali Arnold improved her record to 14-2, giving up two runs on four hits while striking out four in just over three innings of work. Birocci threw three and 2/3 innings of relief and picked up her sixth save of the season.
Iowa travels to University Park, PA, to face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sunday. Game one of the doubleheader is slated for an 11 a.m. start.