April 1, 2008
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Ames, IA – The University of Iowa softball team plated three unanswered runs to defeat Iowa State, 3-1, Tuesday in Ames. The Hawkeyes hit two home runs in the final Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series event of the 2007-08 season.
“Our offense played a little long ball today,” Head Coach Gayle Blevins said. “We had some timely hitting and I thought this was a solid performance. We need to keep this momentum going into the weekend.”
Iowa took the lead in its last at-bat of the game in the seventh. Sophomore Katie Brown gave the Hawkeyes a 2-1 lead with a solo home run that landed just underneath the scoreboard in right-center field. Riemersma followed with a walk and senior Summer Downs then roped a double to center, allowing a hustling Riemersma to score from first for a 3-1 advantage.
Iowa State took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Amanda Bradberry singled to start the frame and scored from first on an RBI double by Sydni Jones.
Junior Erin Riemersma tied the game in the fifth with a leadoff solo home run to right field. Riemersma took the first pitch of the inning from Rachel Zabriskie and drove it through a stiff wind blowing across the diamond to knot the score at one.
Sophomore Amanda Zust threw four impressive in relief for her 10th win of the season. Zust allowed only one hit while striking out seven of the 12 batters she faced. She retired the last eight batters of the game in a row and struck out four-consecutive hitters between the fifth and sixth innings.
Riemersma finished a perfect 2-2 with an RBI and two runs scored while Downs went 2-3 with an RBI.
“We just wanted to come out aggressive today,” Brown said. “It’s fun to be in games like this and I’m glad I could help the team. Our pitchers were throwing great and we knew once we got a lead, they could shut them down.”
“It was fun to see our offense score runs that way,” Zust said. “Our offense showed some power and it was fun to see home runs like that. I just wanted to stay focused and make sure to match the offense’s performance.”
Iowa gained two points in the annual Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series. Iowa State currently leads by an 18-9 score, with academic points still available. The Cyclones have already clinched the 2007-08 Series.
Iowa will make its debut on the Big Ten Network Friday at fifth-ranked Michigan. The game in Ann Arbor will be televised live at 3 p.m.