April 4, 2009
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IOWA CITY – Senior Brittany Weil broke Iowa’s all-time strikeout record Saturday, but the Hawkeyes were swept by Penn State, 1-0 and 2-1. The Hawkeyes fall to 29-9 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten play. Penn State improves to 11-18 overall and 2-6 in conference action.
Weil entered the game needing just three more strikeouts to break former Hawkeye all-American Lisa Birocci’s mark of 946 career K’s. Weil recorded two strikeouts in the first inning to tie the record, and struck out Penn State’s Christan Crivellaro with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second to become Iowa’s all-time strikeout leader. The Garden Grove, CA, native finished with 11 strikeouts and now has 955 career K’s.
“It’s great to have the record,” Weil said. “I’m glad it’s finally done and in the past. With that being said, records don’t mean as much when you don’t come away with wins. We need to re-focus and come back next week ready to play. We have some big games next week.”
Penn State scored the game’s only run in the top of the sixth inning. Lisa Akimine drove in Sam Hovanec, who also singled earlier with one out in the inning. Hovanec moved herself into scoring position with a stolen base, with the attempted throw down to second from catcher Liz Watkins dropped at the bag.
Junior Lindsey Digmann collected two of Iowa’s four hits in the game one loss.
Weil gave up one earned run on five hits and no walks.
Penn State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first in game two, and held the advantage until the sixth, when the Nittany Lions plated an additional run to take a 2-0 lead. Iowa fought back in the bottom of the sixth with its first run of the day, but couldn’t get the game tied.
In the sixth, junior Katie Brown recorded a two-out double, and was replaced by senior Callie Adreon at first. Adreon scored on an RBI single through the right side by sophomore Chelsey Carmody.
Brown nearly tied the game earlier in the fourth with a towering fly ball to left, but a 38 mile-per-hour wind held the ball in the park, with the Penn State outfielder making the grab on the warning track.
Digmann, along with senior Colleen McGlaughlin, each had two hits in the loss.
Junior Amanda Zust lost only her second decision of the year, throwing all seven innings. She gave up one earned run on 10 hits with five strikeouts and only one walk. Zust, who lost her first start of the year Feb. 6 against Florida State, had won 15 decisions in a row.
Iowa will look to re-group next week when it hosts intra-state rival Iowa State Tuesday. First pitch at Pearl Field is scheduled for 5 p.m.