Steady Offense Leads Iowa Past Cornell

Stats

March 14, 2009

Box Score

DELAND, FL – The University of Iowa softball team slugged its way past Cornell, 11-3 in five innings, Saturday afternoon at the Stetson Classic. The Hawkeyes collected a season-high 12 hits and 11 runs in the contest.

Cornell jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Hawkeyes responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame, all which were unearned with two outs.

Senior Colleen McGlaughlin and sophomore Chelsey Carmody recorded back-to-back singles to start the two-out rally. Junior Katie Brown then hit a ground ball to third, but an error extended the inning and also allowed McGlaughlin to score. Senior Sam Heinzman drove in Carmody with an RBI single to center and freshman Katie Keim’s infield single one batter later allowed Brown to score. Freshman Liz Watkins finished the damage for Iowa in the first with a two-RBI double to right field.

Watkins once again came through for Iowa in the third, giving the Hawkeyes a 7-1 lead. Brown drew a walk and senior Callie Adreon took her place at first. After Adreon was sacrificed to second by Heinzman, Watkins picked up her third and fourth RBI of the game with her team-leading fourth home run of the season.

Iowa took a 7-1 lead after the fourth inning. Senior Erin Riemersma singled to start the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Quinn Morelock. Riemersma tagged and hustled to third on a deep fly ball to right field and later scored on an RBI single to left by Carmody.

Cornell wouldn’t go away quietly, plating two runs in the top of the fifth to cut the Hawkeye lead to 8-3.

Iowa ended things quickly in the bottom of the fifth, using three-straight singles and a double to gain the eight-run advantage. Watkins drew a one out walk and was replaced at first by junior Heidi Daumen. Sophomore Jenny Schuelke started the hitting streak with a single, followed by a Riemersma single to load the bases. Morelock smacked an RBI single to score Daumen for a 9-3 count. McGlaughlin then ended the game with a two-RBI double to left field.

Four Hawkeyes (Riemersma, McGlaughlin, Carmody and Watkins) had two hits on the day, while Watkins added a career-high four RBI.

Senior Brittany Weil threw 3.1 innings in the win. She did not allow an earned run while giving up three hits. She struck out three and walked one. Junior Amanda Zust tossed 1.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits with two walks.

Iowa will finish play Saturday at approximately 3 p.m. against Hartford.