April 6, 2008
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University Park, PA – Iowa scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning to earn a two-game sweep over Penn State Sunday. The Hawkeyes improved to 25-12 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten action with a dramatic, 6-4 win in game two.
The Hawkeyes came out swinging in the fifth, plating five runs on four hits. Nichols singled to start the frame and sophomore Taylor Leichsenring reached first on a Penn State error. Sophomore Lindsey Digmann then beat out an infield single to load the bases for junior Colleen McGlaughlin, who delivered with a two-RBI single to center field that cut Penn State’s lead to 4-3. Junior Erin Riemersma followed with a towering, three-run home run into the teeth of a stiff wind blowing in from left field. Riemersma’s team-high fifth long ball of the season had no problem clearing the left field fence for a 6-4 Hawkeye advantage.
Iowa used a perfectly-executed squeeze bunt in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Katie Brown roped a single up the middle and junior Callie Adreon entered as a pinch-runner. Pinch-hitter Heidi Daumen sacrificed Adreon to second and senior Summer Downs followed with a bloop single to left, moving Adreon to third. Senior Emily Nichols then laid down an excellent squeeze bunt in front of the plate and Adreon had no problem crossing home for the game’s first run.
Penn State took its first lead of the day with four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-1 lead. Three walks by starting pitcher Amanda Zust loaded the bases with only one out, which forced a pitching change. Junior Brittany Weil relieved Zust and gave up a bases clearing, three-RBI triple to Kayce Zielinski. Sam Hovanec followed with an RBI single to give the Nittany Lions a 4-1 advantage.
McGlaughlin went 3-4 with two RBI and a run scored while Digmann and Downs each collected two hits.
Weil picked up her second win of the day, throwing four and two-thirds innings relief. She allowed only one run on one hit while striking out one with no walks.
“I thought our kids played really hard today through some adversity,” Head Coach Gayle Blevins said. “We had a lot of determination to get out of the third inning and we responded with a big fifth. This was a great sweep today.”
“We were able to string some hits together and come up with timely hits today,” Riemersma said. “A lot of people just missed on some cuts today. Our defense was solid and a sweep in Big Ten is always nice.”
Iowa will host its third home contest of the season Wednesday when they host Illinois State at Pearl Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on AM-800 KXIC.