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IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa softball team kicked off its fall season last weekend in Ames, Iowa at the All-Iowa Classic. The Hawkeyes faced Iowa State, Drake and Northern Iowa, coming away with a 2-1 record. Last weekend marked the first games played under new Head Coach Marla Looper.
Iowa started off the weekend with a 7-5 win over Iowa State in a rain-shortened, five-inning contest. The Hawkeyes trailed 5-4 in the fifth inning, but plated three runs to take the lead. Two walks put runners on base for junior Katie Keim, gave Iowa the lead with a two-RBI single.
The Hawkeyes once again used a late rally to pick up a win, this time knocking off Drake 8-7 in eight innings. Iowa was down 5-3 in the sixth inning before sophomore Johnnie Dowling recorded a pinch-hit, two-run home run to tie the score at five. The international tiebreaker rule was used in the top of the eighth and Iowa took advantage of a Drake error to put the runner on third. Senior Chelsey Carmordy plated the winning run with a single and senior Liz Watkins gave the Hawkeyes an insurance run with an RBI single.
Iowa’s only loss on the weekend was a 9-0, five-inning result against Northern Iowa.
Carmody and Watkins starred for Iowa offensively over the three-game stretch. Watkins was 4-7 (.571) with three walks, two runs scored and was hit by a pitch. She also threw out three of the four runners who attempted to steal. Carmody batted .444 (4-9) with one triple, one walk and three runs scored.
Iowa wraps up its fall season this Sunday (Sept. 26) at Pearl Field in Iowa City with a doubleheader against SIU-Edwardsville. Game one of the twin bill is scheduled for 1 p.m.