April 18, 2007
IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa softball team (31-17) defeated Upper Iowa (11-23), 10-0 in five innings Friday at Pearl Field. Freshman Amanda Zust struck out a career-high 12 batters in just five innings of work.
Zust walked only one batter and allowed just three hits. She struck out the side in both the first and fifth innings.
Iowa started with two runs to start the game in the first inning. Sophomore Erin Riemersma started the inning with a walk and then stole second. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Taylor Leichsenring and scored on an RBI single by junior Emily Nichols for the first run of the game. Freshman Katie Brown followed with a ground ball that scored Nichols from third.
The Hawkeyes increased their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Mindy Heidgerken roped a double to center field and scored on an RBI single by Riemersma. On the play, Riemersma took second on a throw to home and moved to third on a throwing error. She scored on an RBI single by Leichsenring.
Heidgerken drew a bases loaded walk in the third that plated pinch-runner Callie Adreon for Iowa’s fifth run of the game. Riemersma then tagged a two-RBI single to center field that scored sophomore Quinn Morelock and junior Stephanie Ackerson for a 7-0 lead. Leichsenring slapped an RBI single and Nichols hit a two-RBI single for a 10-0 score.
Riemersma and Nichols each collected two hits and three RBI at the plate. A total of four Hawkeyes tallied two hits.
Iowa returns to Big Ten action Friday against Penn State at Pearl Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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