May 15, 2009
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ATLANTA, GA – The University of Iowa softball team dropped a tough, 1-0, opening round game to Auburn Friday in the Atlanta Region of the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes will now play at 2:30 p.m. (CT) Saturday in the loser’s bracket.
Senior Brittany Weil took the loss, but broke two more school records Friday night. Weil tossed her 182nd career game, and her 110th career complete game, both of which set new school record marks. Weil entered the game tied for first in both categories.
Auburn’s Anna Thompson came out on top in the pitcher’s duel, allowing only three Iowa hits with eight strikeouts. Weil gave up five hits with five K’s.
Iowa did not get off to the start it wanted Friday, giving up the only run of the game in the first frame. Weil hit Myesha Finney with the first pitch of the game, who then stole second base. Finney was sacrificed to third, and scored on an RBI single to right by Tatiana Fernandez.
“We did not start well, and we have got to put up more offense. We just did not have a lot of quality of at-bats. We have got to make better adjustments at the plate,” said UI Coach Gayle Blevins.
Iowa’s best scoring chance was in the bottom of the fourth. Sophomore Chelsey Carmody singled, followed by a Katie Brown walk. The Hawkeyes had two runners on base in the inning, but couldn’t get a run across.
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“We did not start well, and we have got to put up more offense. We just did not have a lot of quality of at-bats. We have got to make better adjustments at the plate.”
Gayle Blevins
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Freshman Liz Watkins tallied a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but pinch-runner Rachel West was caught stealing at second base to end the game.
The Hawkeyes will have to wait until the completion of Game 2 in the Atlanta Regional to see who they will face Saturday, with Iowa getting the loser of the Georgia Tech vs. Boston University game. All Iowa games will be broadcast live on AM-1630, KCJJ.
“We have to play with more purpose and determination tomorrow. We have to play with everything we got, because we have put ourselves in a hole. The season’s on the line,” Blevins said.