Feb. 6, 2009
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- Iowa Softball wallpaper
- SoftBlog
Austin, TX – The University of Iowa softball team opened the 2009 campaign with a convincing 8-0, six-inning win over Southland Conference favorite Stephen F. Austin Friday at the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational, hosted by the University of Texas. Iowa out-hit the Ladyjacks, 9-1, including four extra base hits.
Senior Sam Heinzman had an impressive debut in Black and Gold. The Omaha, NE, native and South Dakota State transfer went 2-3 with two solo home runs, including the final shot to end the contest early. Her first-career hit as a Hawkeye was a home run in the third inning.
Senior Brittany Weil was lights out in her senior season debut as well. She finished with a complete game, one-hit shutout while striking out seven with only two walks.
Iowa opened up the contest in the bottom of the third, plating six runs off five hits, while taking advantage of two Stephen F. Austin errors.
Heinzman started things in the inning by blasting her first home run of the game for a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Chelsey Carmody followed with a single and moved to third on an error off a bunt from junior Taylor Leichsenring. Iowa then ran a double-steal to perfection, allowing Carmody to score the second run of the frame, while Leichsenring took second base. Junior Katie Brown then smacked a double to the right-center gap, pushing Leichsenring home. Junior Lindsey Digmann took Brown’s place at second and hustled to third when senior Colleen McGlaughlin singled. McGlaughlin then stole second and both runners scored off another error, this time off the bat of senior Quinn Morelock. Freshman Katie Keim also collected her first-career hit in the inning, which was a double down the left field line that plated Morelock for the sixth run of the stanza.
The Hawkeyes tacked on another run in the fourth for a 7-0 lead. Leichsenring slapped a single and took second after Brown drew a walk. McGlaughlin then collected a single, but another Stephen F. Austin error allowed Leichsenring to score from second base.
Iowa ended the game early in the sixth inning thanks to Heinzman, who belted her second solo home run of the contest to make the count 8-0.
Six Hawkeyes collected at least one hit in the game. McGlaughlin finished a perfect 3-for-3 with one run scored, while Carmody, Leichsenring, Brown and Keim each had one hit.
Iowa continues action in the Lone Star State Friday afternoon, taking on Florida State at 2:30 p.m.