April 9, 2008
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IOWA CITY – Junior Erin Riemersma smacked a full-count, two-out single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to give Iowa a 3-2 win over Illinois State Wednesday at Pearl Field. Iowa improves to 26-12 with the victory.
“I knew she (Rachel Smith) was going to throw a strike,” Riemersma said. “I just wanted to shorten my swing and hit the ball on the ground.”
With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, sophomore Taylor Leichsenring recorded her third hit of the game to put the winning run on first. She moved to second on a single by freshman Chelsey Carmody and a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Lindsey Digmann put runners on second and third with two outs. An intentional walk to junior Colleen McGlaughlin loaded the bases for Riemersma, who watched the first three pitches of the at-bat go for balls. Illinois State pitcher Rachel Smith then delivered a strike and Riemersma fouled off the next pitch to run the count full. Riemersma delivered the game-winning RBI single on the next pitch to center field.
Illinois State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second off a solo home run by Jessie Buker. Iowa responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. McGlaughlin drew a one-out walk and was replaced at first by junior Callie Adreon. Riemersma then sacrificed Adreon to second and sophomore Katie Brown singled to center, allowing Adreon to score the tying run. Brown moved to second on the throw home and freshman Jenny Schuelke entered as a pinch-runner. Senior Summer Downs then roped an RBI double to give Iowa the lead.
The Redbirds tied the game in the top of the sixth with a two-out, RBI single by Amber Smith.
Leichsenring finished a perfect 3-3 at the plate while Carmody and Riemersma each had two hits.
After giving up the solo home run in the second, junior Brittany Weil struck out the next four batters and sat down the next eight hitters in a row. She threw four and two-thirds innings with five strikeouts in the no-decision. Sophomore Amanda Zust threw two and one-thirds innings relief in the win, striking out three with no walks.
“Games between Iowa and Illinois State are always very close,” Head Coach Gayle Blevins said. “They have lost a lot of games due to weather, but I thought they played very well today. It was good to come away with a win.”
Iowa will play its first home game in Big Ten action Friday night against Michigan State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.