Iowa Uses Clutch Hitting To Move Past Drake

April 18, 2006

Box Score

Des Moines, IA – The University of Iowa softball team (29-16) defeated Drake (17-24), 4-2 Tuesday at Buel Field in Des Moines. The Hawkeyes scored all four of their runs with two outs in the first, fourth and sixth innings.

Iowa plated its first run after three straight singles. Junior Mindy Heidgerken hit a single, followed by sophomore Emily Nichols. Sophomore Summer Downs knocked an RBI single that scored Heidgerken for a 1-0 Hawkeye lead. Senior Kylie Murray followed with the fourth single of the inning to load the bases. Next up was junior Sami Baugh, who drew a bases loaded walk to score Nichols for the second run of the inning.

Drake brought the score to 2-1 in the third off a squeeze bunt. Mollie Daniels started the inning with a double followed by a Jaci Faidley single. Daniels scored on the squeeze play to cut Iowa’s lead in half.

The Hawkeyes responded with a run the fourth inning for a 3-1 advantage. Murray hit a lead-off double and junior Jenna Spratt replaced her at second. Baugh then sacrificed Spratt to third and she scored off a passed ball.

Iowa tacked on another insurance run in the sixth off an RBI double by pinch-hitter Colleen McGlaughlin. Freshman Erin Riemersma started the inning with a double and took third on a Downs sacrifice bunt. Up next was McGlaughlin, who ripped the RBI double to plate Riemermsa. Drake added a run in the bottom of the inning off a solo home run by Shanna Cook, but Iowa kept the Bulldogs in check for the win.

Murray led the Hawkeyes at the plate with a 2-3 performance. Five other Hawkeyes collected a hit against the Bulldogs.

Freshman Brittany Weil improved her record to 20-10 with the complete game win. She gave up two runs on seven hits and struck out three.

Iowa will host Northern Illinois Wednesday at 5 p.m.