April 8, 2007
MADISON, WI – The University of Iowa softball team (28-15, 4-2) lost a pair of games Sunday against Wisconsin (19-11, 2-4). The Hawkeyes lost game one, 5-0, and game two, 4-1.
In game one, Wisconsin took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning off RBI singles by Ricci Robben and Stephanie Chinn.
The Badgers plated three runs in the fifth inning for a 5-0 advantage. Samantha Polito hit a two-RBI triple followed by a sacrifice fly by Athena Vasquez.
Iowa stranded nine runners on base in game one, including five runners in scoring position.
The Hawkeyes were only able to collect three hits off Wisconsin starting pitcher Letty Olivarez. Sophomore Colleen McGlaughlin, junior Stephanie Ackerson and senior Mindy Heidgerken each tallied a hit.
Sophomore pitcher Brittany Weil suffered her first loss in Big Ten play and just her second loss overall. She threw six innings while striking out seven and walking four.
Wisconsin took an early 1-0 lead in game two of the doubleheader. The Badgers had runners on first and third with two outs and Katie Hnatyk attempted to steal second. Emily Nichols’ attempted pick-off throw sailed into center field that allowed Joey Daniels to score from third.
Hnatyk gave Wisconsin a 2-0 lead in the top of the third with an RBI single.
Iowa plated its first run of the day in the bottom of third. Freshman Lindsey Digmann drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a single by sophomore Erin Riemersma. Junior Summer Downs then sacrificed the runners to second and third followed by an RBI single by Nichols.
Wisconsin took advantage of an Amanda Zust hit batsman in the fourth to up its lead to 3-1. Zust hit Katie Soderberg, who later scored on an infield single. The Badgers gained a 4-1 lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Vasquez.
Nichols finished 2-3 with an RBI to lead Iowa’s offense.
Zust threw five innings in the loss, striking out seven and walking seven. Weil threw two innings of relief and struck out four.
Iowa returns to action Wednesday when they host South Dakota State. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Game OneWisconsin 5, Iowa 0IA 000 000 0 - 0 3 1UW 000 230 X - 5 5 0
WP – Olivarez (6-5)LP – Weil (11-2)
Game TwoWisconsin 4, Iowa 1UW 101 101 0 – 4 7 0IA 001 000 0 – 1 6 2
WP – Brock (10-6)LP – Zust (8-7)