April 30, 2006
IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa softball team (36-18, 11-6) split a pair of games with Penn State (35-14, 8-10) Sunday at Pearl Field. Iowa won the first game, 4-3 with a walk-off home run by Stacy May, but lost game two, 1-0 off another walk-off home run by Penn State’s Jen Acunto.
In game one, senior pinch-hitter Brandi Sargent drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the seventh to bring May to the plate, who took a 1-0 count from Penn State pitcher Missy Beseres and blasted it over the left field fence. May now has six home runs on the season, two of which are game-winners.
After game one was delayed approximately one hour due to rain, Penn State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first off an RBI single by Leigh Murray.
Iowa had runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the first inning when a second round of heavy rain hit Pearl Field, causing another 45 minute delay. Play resumed with freshman Colleen McGlaughlin at the plate, who roped a two-RBI double to center field that plated May from second and Kylie Murray from first for a 2-1 Hawkeye lead.
Penn State took a 3-2 lead in the top of the second off back-to-back RBI singles by Ashley Esparza and Danielle Kinley. Iowa trailed 3-2 heading into the seventh before May recorded the walk-off home run.
Sami Baugh collected two of Iowa’s five hits in game one. May and McGlaughlin each tallied two RBI.
Freshman pitcher Brittany Weil improved her record to 25-11 with the win. She scattered three runs on six hits and struck out three batters.
Game two remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when Acunto smacked a walk-off solo home run for the 1-0 victory.
Due to Penn State’s travel plans, it was pre-determined that an inning could not start after 3:30 p.m. The game was stopped after the sixth inning home run because of that decision.
Weil took the loss in game two, allowing one run on five hits in just over five innings of work.
The Hawkeyes wrap up the home portion of the schedule Wednesday in a doubleheader vs. South Dakota State. Game one is slated for a 4 p.m. start.