March 15, 2006
SACRAMENTO, CA – – The Iowa softball team split a doubleheader at Sacramento State today at Shea Stadium. Iowa won game one 6-1, while Sacramento State captured the nightcap, 6-0. The Hawkeyes are now 12-9 overall, while the Hornets are 11-10.
Iowa plated single runs in the second, third and fourth innings to jump out to a 3-0 advantage in game one. Three more Hawkeyes crossed the plate in the top of the fifth to grab a commanding 6-0 lead. Sacramento State scored its only run in the bottom of the fifth.
Senior Kylie Murray sparked the Hawkeyes, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a stolen base. Sophomore Emily Nichols was 2-for-4, while six other Hawkeyes each collected hits. Each of Iowa’s first four batters scored runs (Stacy May, Erin Riemersma, Nichols and Mindy Heidgerken).
Freshman Brittany Weil, who is a native of Garden Grove, California, struck out nine, scattered seven hits in allowing only one run in collecting her eighth victory of the season inside the circle.
Sacramento State sprinted out to a 3-0 lead after two innings in game two, scoring its three runs on four hits and one Hawkeye error. Sacramento State added three more runs, one in the fifth and two in the sixth, en route to victory.
The Hawkeyes were charged with three errors, while the Hornets recorded 12 hits off Iowa starter Ali Arnold. Four of the Hornets’ 12 hits were doubles. Arnold struck out four and yielded four earned runs in her fifth defeat of the year.
Iowa was only able to manage three base runners in its game-two loss, on one walk and two singles.
Iowa returns to action Friday when it competes in the Sacramento Capital Classic. The Hawkeyes open tournament play with games against Jacksonville (12 p.m.) and Long Island (5 p.m.). Both times are central.
GAME ONE SUMMARYIowa 011 130 0 -- 6 10 0Sacramento State 000 010 0 -- 1 7 3WP - Weil (8-4)LP - Cinque (5-6)
GAME TWO SUMMARYIowa 000 000 0 -- 0 2 3Sacramento State 210 012 x -- 6 12 0WP - Cervantes (2-3)LP - Arnold (4-5)