Walk-Off Home Run Defeats Iowa

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Feb. 7, 2009

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Austin, TX – Texas’ Alexis Bennett hit a walk-off, two-out solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Iowa, 3-2, in the first semifinal of the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational Saturday night. Iowa trailed, 2-1, heading into the seventh, and eventually tied the game, but couldn’t hold on for the win.

Trailing 2-1 in the seventh, senior Erin Riemersma came through with a late, clutch hit to force Texas to bat in the bottom of the inning.

Freshman Katie Keim collected a one out double down the left field line, and was replaced at second by junior Lindsey Digmann. Riemersma then delivered a triple to right-center, allowing Digmann to score the tying run. Iowa couldn’t plate Riemersma from third, however, and the score stayed tied at two heading into the bottom of the inning.

Bennett then hit the game-ending home run after Iowa managed to record the first two outs of the seventh.

Freshman Liz Watkins collected her first hit as a Hawkeye in style, blasting a solo home run in the top of the third to give Iowa a 1-0 lead.

Texas took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third off two Hawkeye miscues. Kacie Gaskin reached on a Hawkeye error, followed by a walk. An infield single then loaded the bases and an RBI single by Nadia Taylor knotted the score at one. Senior Brittany Weil then relieved starter Amanda Zust, but hit Tallie Thrasher with a pitch with the bases loaded for the second run of the inning.

Watkins, Keim and Riemersma each collected one hit. Texas out-hit Iowa by a slim 4-3 margin.

Zust threw 2.1 innings and allowed one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts. Weil tossed 4.1 innings of relief, with the only hit allowed being the walk-off home run. She struck out three batters.

Iowa will take on the loser of the Stephen F. Austin vs. Florida State semifinal at 9 a.m. Sunday morning for third place in the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational.