March 12, 2006
SUNNYVALE, CA – – The Iowa softball split its last two games of the 20th annual National Invitational Softball Tournament Sunday at the Twin Creeks Sports Complex. The Hawkeyes edged Santa Clara (6-5), but lost to 10th-ranked Arizona State (3-0). Iowa finished the tournament with a 3-1 record and improved its overall mark to 11-8. Six of the Hawkeyes’ 11 victories this season have been by one run.
Iowa dropped a 3-0 decision to 10th-ranked Arizona State in its first game of the day, falling to the Sun Devils for the fourth time this season.
Arizona State posted single runs in the bottom of the first, third and fifth innings en route to victory. Freshman pitcher Brittany Weil threw 5 2/3 innings, allowed two earned runs, struck out eight and walked five after starter Ali Arnold was relieved after 1/3 inning.
Arizona State hurler Desiree Serrano shut down Iowa’s offense, striking out 11 and yielding only four hits.
Junior Mindy Heidgerken led the Hawkeyes offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base. Freshmen Quinn Morelock and Erin Riemersma both went 1-for-2 in defeat.
Iowa came from behind to defeat Santa Clara, 6-5, in its final game of the tournament. Trailing 2-0 after the first inning, the Hawkeyes rallied and posted three runs in the top of the fourth to grab a 3-2 advantage. The Broncos tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the bottom of the fifth.
The Hawkeyes added one run in the sixth and two in the seventh to take a 6-3 lead. Santa Clara mounted a comeback of its own, scoring two runs in the bottom of the frame, but Weil eventually slammed the door to earn her seventh victory. The Broncos had the tying run on second with only one out, but Weil got the last two batters to line out to left and strike out. The freshman hurler posted 10 strikeouts.
Iowa had eight players record one hit en route to victory. Morelock had a triple and two RBI, while senior Stacy May and sophomore Emily Nichols each had a double to spark the Hawkeye offense in their win over Santa Clara.
The start of tournament play Sunday was delayed two hours due to inclement weather.
Iowa returns to action Wednesday when it plays a doubleheader against Sacramento State 3 p.m. (CST).
#10 ARIZONA STATE 3, IOWA 0Iowa 000 000 0 -- 0 4 1Arizona State 101 010 x -- 3 5 0WP - Serrano (10-1)LP - Arnold (4-4)
IOWA 6, SANTA CLARA 5Iowa 000 301 2 -- 6 8 0Santa Clara 200 010 2 -- 5 8 0WP - Weil (7-4)LP - Courter (1-5)