March 15, 2009
DELAND, FL – The University of Iowa softball team fought back from an early 3-0 deficit to defeat Cornell, 5-3, Sunday to wrap up play at the Stetson Classic. Two Hawkeye home runs helped Iowa pick up its 20th win of the season.
Cornell took advantage of a few Iowa miscues at the start of the game to take a 3-0 lead after the top of the first. Senior Colleen McGlaughlin chipped away at the Cornell lead in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run to make the count 3-1 after the first inning.
Iowa’s offense erupted in the fourth, plating three runs to take a 4-3 advantage. Junior Katie Brown singled and senior Rachel West entered as a pinch-runner. After West stole second, sophomore Jenny Schuelke tied the score with a two-run home run to left field. Back-to-back singles by pinch-hitter Missy Mazur and senior Sam Heinzman kept the rally alive and pinch-hitter Quinn Morelock drove in the go-ahead run with a single to left.
The Hawkeyes tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth for a 5-3 lead. Freshman Katie Keim reached on an error and was sacrificed to second by Heinzman. Keim scored on an RBI double by senior Erin Riemersma.
Junior Amanda Zust picked up the win and is now 9-1 on the season. She allowed one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts in four innings of work. Senior Brittany Weil earned her third save of the season, tossing a perfect three innings. Weil retired all nine batters she faced over three innings along with three strikeouts.
The Hawkeyes will have Monday off before facing Long Island and Stetson Tuesday in the Stetson Hatter Roundup in DeLand. Iowa will take on Long Island at 2 p.m. and Stetson at 4 p.m. All times listed are Central.