Hawkeyes Split At Coach B Classic

March 4, 2006

Box Score

Carbondale, IL – The University of Iowa softball team split a pair of games in the first day of the Coach B Classic, hosted by Southern Illinois University. The Hawkeyes defeated Northern Illinois, 2-0, but fell to Southern Illinois, 2-1.

In game one, Iowa took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Sophomore Emily Nichols singled and freshman Rachel West took her place on first. After West stole second, senior Stacy May roped an RBI single to left field to score West. The Hawkeyes added an insurance run in the top of the sixth off a home run by sophomore Summer Downs.

Nichols and Downs each collected multiple hits for Iowa against Northern Illinois. Nichols went 3-4 while Downs was 2-3. Starting pitcher Ali Arnold allowed only two hits for her first shutout of the season. The senior struck out 11 while walking only three.

Iowa took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first against Southern Illinois in game two. After Nichols walked, May belted a double down the left field line that advanced Nichols to third. Senior Kylie Murray followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Nichols for the first run of the contest.

Southern Illinois answered with the tying run in the bottom of the second off a home run by Katie Louis and took the lead in the fourth off an RBI double by Louis.

May recorded two of Iowa’s three hits against the Salukis while freshman Quinn Morelock picked up a pinch-hit single.

Freshman Brittany Weil threw a complete game in the loss, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out six.

Iowa returns to action Sunday afternoon at 10 a.m. against Illinois-Chicago. The Hawkeyes will also play in the afternoon against a team to be determined.