Feb. 13, 2011
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ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Iowa softball team closed out the Red and Black Showcase with a 13-4 loss to Illinois State Sunday at Jack Turner Stadium.
The Redbirds came out swinging, racking up seven hits in the first three innings. Illinois State scored its first run in the top of the first before crossing the plate four times in the second on back-to-back extra base hits, a two-run double by Lauren Kellar and a two-run jack by Abby Olson.
Iowa pushed two runs across the plate in the third inning. Brianna Luna opened the frame by reaching base on a hit by pitch. After a failed bunt attempt, Nikki Gentile tallied her first career hit on a single down the right field line before stealing second to put runners on second and third with one out.
Freshman Katie Kroeger knocked in the first Hawkeye run before senior Chelsey Carmody plated Gentile, reaching on a fielder’s choice.
Illinois State answered, scoring three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to take an 11-2 advantage. In the bottom of the fifth, Gentile knocked in Iowa’s third and fourth runs on her first career long ball.
Sophomore Chelsea Lyon suffered the defeat, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits in 1.2 innings. Freshman Kayla Massey pitched 5.1 innings in relief, allowing eight runs (six earned) with seven strikeouts.
Iowa (1-4) returns to action on Feb. 18, facing Idaho State at the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
| Illinois State 13, Iowa 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | T | H | E |
| Illinois State (4-1) | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 14 | 1 |
| Iowa (1-4) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Game Decision | ||||||||||
| W: Jordan Birch (ISU) 1-0 | ||||||||||
| L: Chelsea Lyon (UI) 0-3 | ||||||||||