April 23, 2006
Bloomington, IN – The University of Iowa softball team split a pair of games with Indiana Sunday. Indiana won the first game, 12-4 in six innings while the Hawkeyes came away with a 3-2 victory in game two.
In game one, Indiana jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first off a three-home run by Kim Richards. Iowa starting pitcher Brittany Weil hit the first batter of the game and gave up an intentional walk to put runners on first and second for Richards, who drove them in on the home run.
Indiana plated three more runs in the third off RBI singles by Rachel Terry and Stephanie Pellerito along with a sacrifice fly by Kari Bettenbrock.
Iowa cut the Hoosier lead to 6-2 in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Emily Nichols started the inning with a single and freshman Erin Riemermsa followed with a ground ball, but the Hoosier second baseman failed to step on second base for the force out. Freshman Rachel West then replaced Nichols on second and moved to third on an interference call by the Hoosier shortstop. Junior Sami Baugh followed with an RBI single to left field that scored West from third and an error by the Indiana left fielder allowed Downs to score from second.
The Hoosiers scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth off two RBI singles and a double to take a 9-2 lead.
Senior Stacy May, junior Mindy Heidgerken and Nichols recorded three straight singles to start the fifth inning. Senior Kylie Murray roped Iowa’s fourth straight single to score May from third to cut the Indiana lead to 9-3. Riemersma followed with a ground ball to the shortstop that allowed Heidgerken to score Iowa’s second run of the frame.
Indiana increased its lead to 11-4 in the bottom of the fifth off an RBI double by Janetta Deaven and a Hawkeye miscue in the outfield. Rachel Terry hit Indiana’s second home run of the game in the sixth inning to end game one.
Nichols and Heidgerken collected two hits for Iowa in game one. Four other Hawkeyes had one hit.
Weil took the loss in two and two-thirds innings pitched. She allowed six runs, three of which were earned, on three hits. Senior Ali Arnold threw two and two-thirds innings of relief and allowed five earned runs on six hits.
Indiana once again struck first in game two, plating one run in the top of the second. Iowa responded in the third with a two-RBI single by sophomore Summer Downs that scored May and Heidgerken for a 2-1 Iowa lead.
Freshman Colleen McGlaughlin made the score 3-1 in the fourth with a lead-off home run to left field. The home run was McGlaughlin’s second of the season.
Indiana trimmed Iowa’s lead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth off an RBI single by Stephanie Pellerito. The Hoosiers threatened later in the inning with bases loaded and two outs, but Weil recorded a strikeout to escape the inning.
Weil threw a complete game in the win, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out eight.
Iowa hosts intrastate rival Northern Iowa Tuesday at Pearl Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.