March 14, 2008
DeLand, FL – The University of Iowa softball team picked up a 6-0 win over Elon in game one of Friday’s doubleheader at the Stetson Spring Classic. Four Hawkeyes had multiple-hits as Iowa out-hit Elon, 12-4.
“I was really pleased with our effort today,” Head Coach Gayle Blevins said. “The top of the order did a great job getting on and the middle and bottom pushed them across the plate. We had composure defensively and Brittany (Weil) threw another great game. This is how we wanted to open play for our trip.”
Iowa took an early 2-0 lead in its first at bat. Sophomores Lindsey Digmann and Taylor Leichsenring started the inning with back-to-back singles, followed by a Colleen McGlaughlin walk to load the bases. Senior Summer Downs and sophomore Katie Brown then recorded two-straight RBI groundouts to score the first runs of the game.
Sophomore Heidi Daumen picked up her first career RBI in the fourth inning to give Iowa a 3-0 advantage. Brown walked and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Jenny Schuelke and an Elon error. She scored on a squeeze bunt by Daumen later in the inning.
Two more Hawkeye runs in the fifth made the score 5-0. Digmann started the frame with a single and then stole second. She moved to third on a ground ball from Leichsenring and scored on an RBI double by McGlaughlin.
Iowa finished its scoring in the seventh with an additional run. Downs singled and took second on a sacrifice bunt, then moved to third on another Elon error. Sophomore Lindsey Major notched her first career RBI with a single up the middle to score Downs.
Leichsenring finished 3-4 while Digmann, Downs and Daumen all had two hits.
Junior Brittany Weil was in command during her ninth complete game and fourth shutout of the season. Weil gave up four hits while striking out 10 and walking only one. She now has over 100 strikeouts this season and currently has 103 K’s.
Iowa returns to action Friday night against host-school Stetson at 5:30 p.m.
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