April 4, 2010
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IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa softball team continued its hot streak in Big Ten play, knocking off Indiana, 12-1 in five innings Sunday at Pearl Field. Iowa remains undefeated in Big Ten play at 4-0, and moves to 18-13-1 overall, while scoring the most runs of the season.
“Our offense just went to work today,” Head Coach Gayle Blevins said. “We were clicking on all cylinders. Our offense was great, defense was outstanding, pitching was solid and we were very smart on the base paths. It’s great to keep that undefeated mark in Big Ten games.”
Iowa stormed out of the gates Sunday, plating eight runs on six hits in the first inning. The Hawkeyes sent 13 batters to plate in the frame. Iowa’s eight runs in the first frame were the most by the Hawkeyes in a single inning since scoring 11 against the Hoosiers in the fifth inning of a 12-0 win in 2009.
Senior Lindsey Digmann started the inning with a single and scored on an RBI triple from Liz Watkins. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for designated player Sarah Spiering, who promptly cleared the diamond with a three-RBI double. Sophomore Katie Keim kept the inning going with an RBI single that plated freshman Ashley Vanderloo, who pinch ran for Spiering. Two more runs crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Digmann.
Indiana managed a run in the top of the second, but four more Hawkeye runs in the bottom of the third made the count 12-1. Freshman Johnnie Dowling recorded a leadoff double and scored on a single up the middle by senior Taylor Leichsenring. Later in the inning, senior Katie Brown drove in two runs with a double to left field. Brown then scored on a single to right field by junior Chelsey Carmody.
Carmody was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day, while Digmann and Leichsenring each had two hits.
Senior Amanda Zust picked up the win, moving to 10-6 on the season. Zust allowed just one run on four hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
The Hawkeyes will host a doubleheader against Northwestern Wednesday. Game one is scheduled for a 4 p.m. first pitch.