March 2, 2007
Woodstock, GA – The University of Iowa split the opening day of the Buzz Classic Friday. Iowa defeated Gardner-Webb, 5-3, but lost to Boston, 7-5. Junior Emily Nichols finished the day 4-6 with four RBI and increased her hitting streak to 15 games.
Iowa scored three of its five runs in the first inning to take an early lead in game one. Sophomore Erin Riemersma started the frame with a walk and took second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Jenna Spratt. Nichols followed with an RBI double for a 1-0 lead. After junior Summer Downs reached on a fielder’s choice and sophomore Colleen McGlaughin drew a walk to load the bases, junior Stephanie Ackerson hit a two-RBI double for the early 3-0 advantage.
McGlaughlin gave Iowa a 5-0 lead in the third when she blasted her first home run of the season. The long ball scored Nichols, who led off the inning with a double.
Gardner-Webb made things interesting with a home run in the fourth and two runs in the top of the seventh, but Iowa held on to win the game.
Nichols finished game one 2-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.
Ackerson picked up the win, throwing a complete game with six strikeouts and only one walk.
Game two saw the first two innings scoreless until Iowa plated four runs in the top of the third inning. Riemersma started the inning with a walk and then stole second. After Spratt walked, Nichols belted a three-run home run, her fourth of the season, for a 3-0 lead. The Hawkeyes tacked on another run after West tripled and scored on a McGlaughlin sacrifice fly.
Boston fought back in their half of the third with a three-run home run to trim Iowa’s lead to 4-3.
Both teams plated a run in the fourth to make the score 5-4. Nichols scored in the top of the fourth when Boston attempted to pick off McGlaughlin stealing second, and Nichols scored from third.
Boston took advantage of two Hawkeye walks and an error in the sixth to plate three runs for the final 7-5 advantage.
McGlaughlin and Nichols led Iowa at the plate in game two. McGlaughlin finished 2-2 with an RBI while Nichols went 1-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Freshman Amanda Zust took the loss, throwing five and two-thirds innings. She struck out six and walked five. Ackerson threw one-third of an inning in relief.
Iowa’s game against Dartmouth Saturday has been moved to 2 p.m. The Hawkeyes will face Georgia Southern Saturday at the regular time of 4 p.m. .