Feb. 17, 2006
- This week’s USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll
- The Hawkeyes’ schedule
- Ticket information and directions to Pearl Field
Tempe, AZ – The University of Iowa softball team split its games in day one of the Littlewood Classic, hosted by Arizona State University. The Hawkeyes defeated Illinois State, 9-3 but fell to No. 23 Arizona State, 5-4.
Iowa took an early 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second against Illinois State. Freshman Erin Riemersma started the inning with a double to the center field wall and advanced to third on a passed ball. Junior Jenna Spratt then slapped an infield single and stole second. Junior Mindy Heidgerken followed with a triple to left field, scoring both Riemersma and Spratt. Sophomore Emily Nichols continued with an RBI double to right field and took third base on a passed ball. Senior Kylie Murray made the score 5-0 with a two-RBI double to right field, scoring Nichols and May.
Illinois State answered in the top half of the third with a three-run home run by Amber Smith but the Hawkeyes bounced back in the bottom of the fourth with one run. May and Murray recorded back-to-back walks followed by an RBI single by sophomore Summer Downs.
Heidgerken and freshman Quinn Morelock added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings with home runs. Heidgerken hit a towering shot over the right field fence in the fifth while Morelock belted her first career home run to straight-away center field.
Iowa recorded 10 hits against Illinois State, including two home runs. Heidgerken and Riemersma both collected two hits while Heidgerken, Murray and Morelock had multiple RBI. May was solid defensively including a diving stop up the middle to rob a Sun Devil double.
Freshman pitcher Brittany Weil improved her record to 5-1 on the season. She threw a complete game, scattering five hits and three walks while striking out a season-high nine batters.
The Hawkeyes struck first in the top of the first inning against Arizona State. Heidgerken led off the game with a single and advanced to second on a Nichols bunt. May singled to advance Heidgerken to third and Murray followed with an RBI single to right field. Downs recorded the third out of the inning on a deep fly ball that was caught right at the left field wall, nearly clearing the fence.
The Sun Devils wasted no time scoring, tying the contest in the bottom half of the first. Starting pitcher Ali Arnold killed the Arizona State rally by striking out Rhiannon Baca with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Arizona State took the lead in the bottom of the second inning after Delenah Langley scored on a wild pitch. The Hawkeyes responded, regaining the lead in the top of the fourth. May started the inning with a single and took second base on a wild pitch. Murray advanced May to third on a sacrifice bunt and Downs followed with a rope to left field that scored May. Iowa scored the go-ahead run when freshman Colleen McGlaughlin drew a bases loaded walk that scored freshman pinch-runner Rachel West.
The Sun Devils took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth inning off a three-run home run by Mindy Cowles.
Iowa fought back in their last at bat, scoring once in the top of the seventh off a sacrifice fly by Nichols but couldn’t plate the tying run.
May went 3-4 with a run scored to lead the Hawkeye offense against Arizona State. Arnold picked up the loss, throwing three and two-thirds innings while striking out six. Weil threw just over two innings of relief and struck out three.
Iowa returns to action at 2 p.m. Saturday against Illinois State at the Littlewood Classic.