Feb. 17, 2008
Minneapolis, MN – The University of Iowa softball team split a pair of games in the final day of play at the Metrodome Classic Sunday. The Hawkeyes were defeated by Arkansas, 5-3, but bounced back with a 4-1 victory over Drake.
Freshman Chelsey Carmody and junior Brittany Weil were both named to the Metrodome Classic all-tournament team. Carmody finished the five-game weekend with a .563 batting average (9-16) along with two doubles, one RBI, three runs scored and one stolen base. Weil did not give up an earned run in 24.1 innings pitched while striking out 29 batters and walking only five.
Iowa jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning of game two against Drake. Sophomore Taylor Leichsenring walked and advanced to second on a single by junior Colleen McGlaughlin. Senior Summer Downs followed with a long fly ball to left field that hit the fence, allowing both runners to score.
The Hawkeyes added another run to their lead in the second inning. Senior Emily Nichols roped a double that bounced over the short fence for a ground-rule double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt sophomore Lindsey Digmann. Nichols then scored on a deep sacrifice fly by Carmody..
Drake cut Iowa’s lead to 3-1 in the top of the fourth with an RBI double by Jaci Faidley, but freshman Jenny Schuelke responded in the bottom of the inning with her first career home run in Black and Gold. Schuelke led off the inning with a towering fly ball that cleared the left field fence for a 4-1 Hawkeye lead.
Five Hawkeyes each collected one hit while Downs finished with two RBI against the Bulldogs.
Weil picked up her third-straight win, tossing a complete game two-hitter. Weil struck out nine and walked two. She did not give up an earned run in 24.1 innings pitched and struck out 29 batters on the weekend.
In game one, Arkansas struck first with one run in the top of the first off an RBI single by Sandra Smith. It was the first run scored against Iowa this season. Before giving up the run, the Hawkeyes had gone 22 innings without allowing an opponent to cross the plate.
Iowa responded with a run to tie the contest in the bottom half of the first. Carmody started the inning with an infield single, but the throw sailed into the bullpen. The ball rolled down the wall and into the outfield, which allowed a hustling Carmody to cross the plate. But, the umpires ruled the ball had rolled out of play, which forced Carmody back to second base. After Leichsenring walked, McGlaughlin sacrificed the runners to second and third. Downs followed with a perfect squeeze bunt and Carmody slid safely under the tag.
Arkansas took a 5-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning off an RBI single by Kayla Johnson, a two-RBI triple by Whitney Cloer and another RBI double by Dayna Huckabee.
The Hawkeyes chipped away at the Arkansas lead, plating two runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 5-3 deficit. Carmody led off the inning with an infield single. Later in the frame, Downs hit a sharp ground ball to second, but the throw ended up in the Iowa dugout, allowing Carmody to move to third and Downs to second. Junior Erin Riemersma followed with a two-RBI single to center, scoring both Carmody and Downs.
Iowa threatened in its last at bat, but couldn’t force extra innings. Downs drew a two-out walk followed by a sharp single by Riemersma. A wild pitch put the runners on second and third, but a ground ball ended the game.
Carmody and Riemersma both finished game one with two hits while Riemersma collected two RBI.
Freshman Amanda Zust threw just over four innings in her first loss of the season. Zust struck out and walked three batters. Weil tossed just over two innings of relief, striking out two without walking a batter.
The Hawkeyes travel to Tempe, AZ, next weekend to compete in the Littlewood Classic. For a complete classic schedule, check hawkeyesports.com.
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