April 22, 2007
IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa softball team (34-18, 9-5) split a pair of games against Ohio State (27-15, 8-2) Sunday at Pearl Field. Iowa scored seven unanswered runs in game one for a 7-3 comeback win, but fell in game two, 1-0.
In game one, junior Emily Nichols gave Iowa a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run home run over the left field fence. Nichols’ 12th round-tripper of the season scored sophomore Erin Riemersma, who walked, and freshman Taylor Leichsenring, who beat a throw from second base for an infield single.
Pinch-runner Jenna Spratt crossed the plate on a double-steal to give Iowa a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman pinch-runner Lindsey Digmann stole second base and Spratt took home on the throw. Ackerson slapped a sacrifice bunt to second base that allowed Digmann to slide safely for a 7-3 advantage.
Ohio State threatened in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded and two outs. Weil, who was relieved by freshman Amanda Zust during the first inning, re-entered the game in the sixth with runners on first and second and two outs. Weil then hit Sam Marder with a pitch to load the bases, but got Megan Schwab to fly out to junior Stephanie Ackerson at first base to end the inning.
Ohio State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Buckeyes scored on a Brittany Weil wild pitch, an RBI double and an RBI single, all with two outs in the inning.
Iowa cut Ohio State’s lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third. Senior Mindy Heidgerken tagged a single to center field and then stole second. Freshman Taylor Leichsenring scored Heidgerken on an RBI triple to the left field fence.
Sophomore Quinn Morelock hit a sacrifice fly to score sophomore Callie Adreon from third to bring the Hawkeyes within a run at 3-2. Junior Summer Downs started the inning with a double that hit the top of the center field fence. Adreon took her place at second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Colleen McGlaughlin. Morelock followed with the sacrifice fly to make the score 3-2.
Heidgerken and Leichsenring each tallied two hits and scored a run in game one. Iowa out-hit Ohio State, 8-7.
Zust picked up her first career win in Big Ten play. She threw five innings of relief and shut down the potent Buckeye offense with no runs on three hits and struck out five. Weil threw a total of two innings and picked up her second save of the season.
Ohio State scored the only run of game two off a sacrifice fly by Lauren Daykin in the bottom of the fifth inning. The fly ball to center field scored Courtney Pruner, who doubled to start the frame.
Iowa’s defense played superb behind Weil despite the loss, highlighted by a diving catch in shallow center by Riemersma and a nice grab on a high line drive at second by McGlaughlin.
Weil suffered her fifth loss of the season despite pitching six solid innings. She allowed one run on only three hits and struck out one.
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