April 9, 2005
IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa softball team was upset by the Purdue Boilermakers at Pearl Field on Saturday, 2-1. Three costly errors by Iowa allowed the Boilermakers to leave Iowa City with a series split.
The Hawkeyes, who were the visiting team on the scoreboard, scored one run in the top of the first for an early lead. Stacy May singled back to the pitcher and Kylie Murray blasted an RBI double into center field to give Iowa a 1-0 lead.
Purdue responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Tricia Lilley reached second base on an error and DaQueta Johnson doubled to tie the game.
Purdue scored the go-ahead run in the sixth after two Iowa errors loaded the bases for the Boilermaker with no outs. Erika Peterson hit a single down the third base line to score Andrea Hillsey to take the lead. Ali Arnold was then relived by Lisa Birocci, who fanned two of the next three batters to help the Hawkeyes escape the sixth, but Iowa could not plate the tying run.
Murray continued to hit well for Iowa, going 2-2 with a double and an RBI. May, Summer Downs, Emily Nichols and Mindy Heidgerken each collected one hit.
Arnold suffered the loss for the Hawkeyes, even though she did not give up an earned run. The junior threw five innings and allowed only three hits and struck out four. Birocci threw one inning of relief and struck out two.
Iowa will host Indiana Sunday at Pearl Field. Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m.