April 19, 2008
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IOWA CITY – The 25th-ranked University of Iowa softball team defeated Wisconsin in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader, 8-1, to earn a series sweep over the Badgers. Iowa improved its record to 31-13 overall and 9-3 in Big Ten play.
“We had great overall pitching today from both Brittany (Weil) and Amanda (Zust),” Head Coach Gayle Blevins said. “Our pitchers kept zeroes on the scoreboard for a long time and we also had great hitting. Now we need to come back tomorrow and focus on two more tough games.”
Iowa took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore Katie Brown drilled a double to the center field fence and was replaced at second by junior Callie Adreon. Junior pinch-hitter Heidi Daumen sacrificed Adreon to third and a Badger error off the bat of sophomore Taylor Leichsenring allowed the first Hawkeye run to score. Later in the inning, sophomore Lindsey Digmann drew a walk to put two runners on base. Junior Colleen McGlaughlin then tagged a fly ball to left field that hit the top of the fence, narrowly missing a home run, but drove in both runners for a 3-0 advantage.
The Badgers plated their first run of the day in the top of the fifth inning with a bases loaded groundout from Nicole Whaley to make the score 3-1.
Iowa responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 5-1 lead. Junior pinch-hitter Quinn Morelock singled and Digmann re-entered at first. McGlaughlin then drew a walk and later in the frame, senior Summer Downs drew a base on balls to load the bases. Senior Emily Nichols plated two runs with a double that one-hopped to the left field fence to give the Hawkeyes a four-run advantage.
Two more Hawkeye runs in the bottom of the sixth gave Iowa an 8-1 advantage. Freshman Jenny Schuelke was hit by a pitch and moved to second on an infield single by Leichsenring. Freshman Chelsey Carmody sacrificed the runners to second and third and Digmann then slapped a single back to Badger relief pitcher Kristyn Miller. After Digmann reached safely, Miller threw the ball to first and the throw sailed to the outfield, allowing Schuelke to score.
Later in the inning, junior Erin Riemersma walked to load the bases for freshman pinch-hitter Lindsey Major, who hit a sharp ground ball up the middle. Wisconsin second baseman Livi Abney made a diving stop to keep the ball in the infield, but Leichsenring crossed home. On the play, Digmann hustled around from second to slide in safely at home for the second run of the frame.
Eight Hawkeyes collected a hit while McGlaughlin, Major and Nichols had two RBI.
Sophomore Amanda Zust tossed a complete game, four-hitter for her 12th win of the season. She allowed only one run while striking out five.
Iowa will take on Minnesota in a doubleheader Sunday starting at noon. Both games will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. Sunday’s doubleheader will also be “Strikeout Cancer” day at Pearl Field. Any fan wearing pink will be given free admission. There will also be many different promotional items handed out during Sunday’s doubleheader.