April 15, 2006
IOWA CITY – Senior Stacy May hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to help Iowa upset 12th-ranked Michigan Saturday, 1-0. The home run was May’s fourth of the season.
With the wind blowing in from center field, May took the first pitch from relief pitcher Jennie Ritter and blasted the home run over the left field fence. Iowa, who was the visiting team, had a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Iowa starting pitcher Brittany Weil hit Wolverine first baseman Samantha Findlay with a pitch to start the bottom of the inning but recorded a groundout, a pop fly and struck out Stephanie Bercaw to seal the Hawkeye victory.
Weil pitched a gem for the Hawkeyes, throwing a complete game one-hitter against the potent Wolverine offense. Michigan’s only hit came in the bottom of the second when Becky Marx recorded a single through the left side of the infield. Weil retired nine of the next 10 batters she faced after the lone hit, including eight in a row. She struck out six and walked two for her 18th win of the season.
The Hawkeyes improved their record to 27-15 overall and 5-3 in Big Ten play despite stranding nine runners on the basepaths. Iowa left two runners in scoring position in the first and second innings and a runner on third base in the fourth.
Sophomore Emily Nichols finished 2-3 at the plate while sophomores Summer Downs and Stephanie Ackerson each recorded a hit. May finished 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Iowa was solid in the field as well, highlighted by two spectacular defensive plays. In the bottom of the first, Weil snagged a hard ground ball and flipped to May at second, who made a great turn for a double play to escape the inning. Ackerson also made a tremendous diving catch in foul territory near the first base dugout in the fifth inning.
Iowa will face Michigan State in a doubleheader Sunday at Pearl Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.