Iowa Routs Coyotes in Home Opener

Stats | Stats

March 20, 2011

Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team picked up a pair of run-rule victories over South Dakota in its 2011 home opener at Pearl Field. The Hawkeyes won the opener, 10-0, in five innings before claiming the night cap, 9-1, in six frames.

Iowa jumped on Coyote starter Erica Denney in the first game, scoring three runs in the opening inning. Freshman Michelle Zoeller, who reached on an infield single, scored the team’s first run on a passed ball. Sophomore Johnnie Dowling singled home Iowa’s second run with an RBI hit to left field, and senior Jenny Schuelke’s sacrifice fly to center field made the score 3-0.

The Hawkeyes added to their lead with six runs on six hits in the third inning. Stephanie Ochoa led off the frame with an infield single before coming around to score on Watkins’ single to left field. Schuelke’s followed with an infield single to plate Watkins before Zoeller’s delivered a two out, two-run single to center to knock in Brianna Luna and Schuelke.

After USD made a pitching change, bringing in Missy Blackburn, Chelsey Carmody laced a single to center field to plate the team’s final two runs, making the score 9-0. Watkins then connected on a solo home run in the fourth inning to round out Iowa’s scoring. The long ball was her team-leading fifth jack of the season.

Sophomore Chelsea Lyon scattered two hits in five innings in the complete game shutout. The Oklahoma native struck out seven Coyote batters to improve her record to 8-8 on the season.

Four Hawkeyes had multi-hit games in the opener. Zoeller (2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI, Carmody (2-3, 2 RBI), Ochoa (2-3, 2 runs) and Watkins (2-2, 2 runs) accounted for eight of Iowa’s 12 hits.

South Dakota drew first blood in the second game of the doubleheader, pushing a single run across the plate in the first inning against Iowa starter Kayla Massey. The Hawkeyes answered with four runs in their at-bat in the bottom half of the frame to jump out to the 4-1 advantage.

Watkins tallied the first RBI, drawing a bases loaded walk to plate Keim, who opened Iowa’s at-bat with a walk. Johnnie Dowling then reached on an error by USD second baseman Kassie Loe. Dowling moved all the way to third base on the miscue and three Hawkeye runs crossed the plate.

Iowa added to its lead with single runs in the third and fifth innings. Ochoa, who led off the inning with a single, scored the first run on a Brianna Luna infield single in the third. Carmody followed suit in the fifth inning, singling to open the frame before coming around to score on when Watkins reached on an error to the shortstop.

The Hawkeyes put an end to the game in the bottom of the sixth plating three runs. Zoeller drew a one out walk to start the Iowa scoring and stole second to move into scoring position. Carmody followed with an RBI double into the left centerfield gap and crossed the plate on Ochoa’s single to left. After Watkins walked and Dowling reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases, Schuelke drew a bases-loaded walk to plate the winning run and end the game.

Massey scattered three hits and allowed a single run in the game. The freshman struck out five USD batters to improve to 8-4 on the year.

Carmody and Ochoa continued swinging their hot bats, as the duo accounted for six of Iowa’s seven hits. Carmody went 3-for-4 with three runs, while Ochoa was 3-for-3 with two runs scored.

Iowa (16-12) opens Big Ten Conference play at Ohio State Saturday. The first game against the Buckeyes is set to begin at 1 p.m. in Columbus.