Early Lead Doesn’t Hold Up in Season Opener

Stats

Feb. 11, 2011

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ATHENS, Ga. — After jumping out to a four run lead in the first inning, the University of Iowa softball team couldn’t close out the victory, falling 5-4 to Lipscomb in its season-opener at the Red and Black Showcase at Jack Turner Stadium.

The Hawkeyes jumped on Lady Bison starter JJ Nelson early, plating four runs in the first inning. Junior Katie Keim scored the game’s first run on an illegal pitch before senior Jenny Schuelke connected on a three-run shot to plate Liz Watkins and Johnnie Dowling.

Lipscomb also got on the board in the first inning via an unearned run before using a pair of hits and a Hawkeye error to tie the contest at four with three runs in the third. The Lady Bisons then plated the go-ahead run in the fourth off a Shelby Billington RBI single up the middle.

Iowa put runners in scoring position in the fifth and seventh innings. Lipscomb reliever Whitney Kihnl killed the Hawkeye rally in the seventh with a strikeout before getting Dowling to ground out to short to close out the game.

Chelsea Lyon pitched four innings, giving up seven hits and five runs (one earned) in the defeat. True freshman Kayla Massey tossed two innings in relief, striking out three of the six batters she faced.

Iowa (0-1) returns to action later this afternoon, facing Atlantic Coast Conference foe Maryland beginning at 2 p.m.

Lipscomb 5, Iowa 4	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	T
Iowa (0-1)	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
Lipscomb (1-1)	1	0	3	1	0	0	X	5
Game Decision
W: Whitney Kihnl (LU) 1-1
L: Chelsea Lyon (UI) 0-1