March 24, 2007
IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa softball team used a combined 12 runs and 18 hits to earn a pair of wins Saturday at the Hawkeye Classic. Iowa defeated North Dakota State, 3-0 and Ball State, 9-2.
Iowa scored all three runs off of home runs in game one against North Dakota State. Sophomore Erin Riemersma gave Iowa an early 2-0 lead in the second inning with a towering two-run home run over the left field fence. Sophomore Colleen McGlaughlin hit a line-drive single to center field and Riemersma followed with her first home run of the season.
Sophomore Rachel West added to Iowa’s lead in the fourth with a solo home run to left field to make the score 3-0.
Sophomore pitcher Brittany Weil improved her record to 4-1 in the complete game shutout. Weil struck out 10 and walked zero.
The Hawkeyes took another early lead in game two against Ball State. Freshman Taylor Leichsenring singled and scored from first off a double by junior Emily Nichols.
Ball State responded with a two-run home run by Taylor Yancey to take a 2-1 lead.
Iowa regained a 3-2 advantage in the second inning. Sophomore Quinn Morelock reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on a Mindy Heidgerken walk. Morelock then scored on an RBI single by Riemersma to tie the contest at 2-2. Leichsenring followed with a single to center field to load the bases. Nichols then hit a sharp line drive to the shortstop, who caught the ball and attempted to double-up Leichsenring at first. Heidgerken took off from third and scored on the attempted pick-off play to take the lead.
West gave the Hawkeyes a 4-2 lead in the third. She reached first on a bunt single, stole second, and took third base and scored on back-to-back ground balls to the left side of the infield.
The Hawkeyes plated another run in the fifth for a 5-2 lead. McGlaughlin started the inning with a single and senior Jenna Spratt took her place at first. Spratt moved to second off a sacrifice bunt by West and scored on an RBI single by junior Stephanie Ackerson.
Iowa put up a four-run sixth inning to put the game out of reach. McGlaughlin roped an RBI double to score junior Summer Downs and Nichols while Heidgerken hit a two-RBI single to score McGlaughlin and West.
Leichsenring, Nichols, McGlaughlin and Ackerson each had two hits while McGlaughlin and Heidgerken collected two RBI.
Freshman Amanda Zust threw just over six innings in relief for her eighth win of the season. She allowed no runs on two hits and struck out eight.
Iowa will face Northern Illinois at 4 p.m. Sunday in the final day of the Hawkeye Classic.
Click HERE for more information about the Big Ten Network.