April 7, 2006
IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa softball team recorded a 2-0 win over Minnesota Friday night at a windy Pearl Field. The Hawkeyes improve to 22-14 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
The Hawkeyes took advantage of two Gopher errors to score the first run of the contest in the bottom of the second. Freshman Colleen McGlaughlin reached second on a dropped ball by the Minnesota right fielder and freshman Rachel West entered the game as a pinch-runner. After West advanced to third on a passed ball, senior Brandi Sargent hit a ground ball to the Golden Gopher third baseman, but the ball was dropped at first which allowed West to score.
Iowa added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth off an RBI single by sophomore Emily Nichols. Sophomore Steph Ackerson led off the inning with a single and was replaced on first by senior Ali Arnold, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Stacy May. Junior Mindy Heidgerken then roped a single to center field to move Arnold to third, but Heidgerken was thrown out at second base. Nichols followed with a line drive double to left center field to plate Arnold for the final run of the contest.
Freshman second baseman Erin Riemersma made an outstanding defensive play in the top of the seventh to rob Valerie Alston of a base hit for the first out of the inning. Riemersma made a diving back-handed stop and was assisted by a nice stretch by Ackerson at first to record the out.
Four different Hawkeyes collected hits, led by Nichols who was 1-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Weil threw her 16th complete game and fifth shutout of the season. She recorded four strikeouts and walked two.
Iowa will close out the two-game series against Minnesota Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m.