Iowa Knocks Off Texas, 4-1

Iowa Knocks Off Texas, 4-1

Stats

Feb. 7, 2009

Box Score

Austin, TX – The University of Iowa softball team defeated host-school Texas, 4-1, Saturday in the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational. The Hawkeyes used timely hitting and a consistent pitching performance from senior Brittany Weil to get the victory.

Iowa took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second thanks to senior Quinn Morelock. Freshman Katie Keim drew a walk to start the inning and was replaced at first by senior Rachel West. Senior Erin Riemersma then sacrificed West to second and Morelock followed with her first home run of the season.

Texas’ Loryn Johnson cut Iowa’s lead in half with a leadoff, solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.

Back-to-back Longhorn errors gave Iowa a 3-1 advantage in the top of the sixth. Keim hit a ground ball to second to start the inning, but an errant throw to first allowed Keim to reach second base. Riemersma followed with a grounder to first, but another throwing error allowed Keim to score.

Iowa plated another run in the top of the seventh to make the score 4-1. The Hawkeyes used two-straight bunt singles from sophomore Chelsey Carmody and junior Taylor Leichsenring to begin the frame. Leichsenring moved to second when Texas turned a double play, forcing Carmody at third and throwing junior Katie Brown out at first. Senior Colleen McGlaughlin then notched an RBI single to left field, plating Leichsenring for the fourth Hawkeye run of the game.

Leichsenring finished the contest 3-for-4, while five other Hawkeyes each had one hit. Morelock led the way with two RBI, both coming off her second inning long-ball.

Weil tossed her second complete game of the season for the win. She allowed one earned run on four hits and struck out six batters.

The Hawkeyes and Longhorns will have a rematch in the first semifinal game of the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational Saturday night at 5 p.m.