Heidgerken Lifts Iowa Past Western Illinois, 5-1

April 29, 2007

Box Score

IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa softball team (35-20) defeated Western Illinois (18-21), 5-1 Sunday at Pearl Field. Senior Mindy Heidgerken plated three of Iowa’s five runs against the Westerwinds.

Iowa took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Erin Riemersma started the inning with a walk and then stole second. She advanced to third on an infield single by freshman Taylor Leichsenring and scored on a ground ball by junior Summer Downs.

Western Illinois tied the game in the top of the second with an RBI double by Britt Mason. Nicole Green led off the inning with a single to left field and Mason dropped a double between Riemersma and junior Rachel West in left field, scoring Green.

Heidgerken gave Iowa a 3-1 advantage in the bottom of the second with her second home run of the season. West reached first on a bunt single and Heidgerken followed with a towering shot over the left field fence.

Iowa increased its lead to 4-1 in the third. Downs hit a two-out single to right field and sophomore Callie Adreon entered as a pinch-runner. Adreon then stole second and scored when sophomore Colleen McGlaughlin looped an RBI single to right field.

Heidgerken plated West again in the fourth, this time with an RBI single to left field for a 5-1 advantage. West ripped a single to start the fourth and stole her second base of the game. She took third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Lindsey Digmann and scored on Heidgerken’s RBI single.

West finished a perfect 3-3 while Leichsenring, McGlaughlin and Heidgerken each went 2-3.

Sophomore Brittany Weil threw five innings for her 16th win of the season. Weil allowed one run on four hits and struck out three. Freshman Amanda Zust threw two innings of relief and struck out two.

Iowa faces intra-state rival Drake Wednesday at Pearl Field. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

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