Two-Run Third Inning Gives Iowa Hawkeye Classic Crown

March 25, 2007

Box Score

IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa softball team defeated Northern Illinois, 2-0 Sunday at the Hawkeye Classic. Iowa won its own tournament with a 4-0 record.

Iowa scored the only runs of the game in the bottom of the third inning. Freshman Lindsey Digmann started with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Mindy Heidgerken. Digmann then scored on an RBI single by sophomore Erin Riemersma for a 1-0 lead. Riemersma then stole second, moved to third on a Taylor Leichsenring single and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Emily Nichols for the second run of the frame.

Northern Illinois had two great scoring chances in both the third and fifth innings, but sophomore pitcher Brittany Weil and the Hawkeye defense got Iowa out of the jams. The Huskies had runners on second and third with no outs in the third, but a great diving catch by junior Stephanie Ackerson and two strikeouts by Weil ended the inning. Northern Illinois had the bases loaded with no outs in the fifth, but two outs via runner’s interference and a great running catch by Heidgerken stopped the scoring chance.

Weil threw her fifth complete game and fourth shutout of the season. She allowed four hits and struck out nine in the victory.

Iowa travels to DeKalb, IL, Wednesday for a rematch with Northern Illinois. Game time is set for 4 p.m.

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