Home Runs Put Iowa Past Hartford

March 13, 2009

DELAND, FL – The University of Iowa softball team defeated Hartford, 7-1, Friday at the Stetson Classic. Iowa out-hit Hartford, 11-2, and moves to 17-4 on the year.

Iowa took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Katie Brown drew a walk and advanced to second on an illegal pitch. One batter later, Hartford hurler Brittney Stratton committed another illegal pitch, moving Brown to third base. Senior Rachel West then followed with a fielder’s choice RBI for the game’s first run.

The Hawkeyes tacked on two more runs in the fourth. West singled and moved to third on a throwing error. Senior Erin Riemersma drove in West with a triple, and yet another illegal pitch allowed Riemersma to score.

Freshman Katie Keim put Iowa up 5-0 in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Chelsey Carmody bunted her way to first base and Keim came through with her first-career run in Black and Gold.

Senior Colleen McGlaughlin decided to get in on the long-ball action in the sixth, blasting her second home run of the season in the sixth. McGlaughlin’s shot plated senior Quinn Morelock, who singled to start the frame.

Hartford managed to plate one run in the top of the seventh off a solo home run, but couldn’t mount a larger comeback.

Junior Amanda Zust tossed her fourth complete game of the season, allowing one earned run on two hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

McGlaughlin led Iowa at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Iowa will continue action at the Stetson Classic at 5:30 p.m. against host-school Stetson.