Drake Rallies Past Iowa for 2-1 Victory

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April 6, 2011

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DES MOINES, Iowa — Drake scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally for a 2-1 victory over the University of Iowa softball team Wednesday afternoon at Ron Buel Field.

“I am a little disappointed in our outing today,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “We weren’t really assertive and aggressive and didn’t have that fire in our eyes. We finally scratched a run out in the sixth, but then we handed it right back to them, putting the tying run on second and loading the bases. All it took was one little poke in the gap and unfortunately, the ball game is over at that point.”

The Hawkeyes grabbed the one run lead in the top of the sixth inning. Junior Katie Keim led off the frame with a single to right field before advancing to second on a Johnnie Dowling sacrifice bunt. After Keim stole third, freshman Brianna Luna plated the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left field.

The Bulldogs threated in their at-bat in the sixth inning, putting a pair of runners on base, but Iowa starter Kayla Massey pitched her way out of the jam to keep the Hawkeyes on top.

Drake didn’t waist its opportunity in its final at-bat, as it pushed two runs across the plate to rally for the victory against Iowa reliever Chelsea Lyon. The Hawkeye sophomore retired the first two batters she faced before Sam West started things with an infield single. After Lindsey Vande Wall reached on an error, Jenna DeLong followed with a walk to load the bases.

The Bulldogs’ Amy Pierce then delivered in the clutch, as she hit a bloop single to centerfield to drive in the game-tying and go-ahead runs to give Drake the victory.

Bulldog pitcher Brynne Dordel allowed two hits and struck out seven Iowa batters en route to her 10th victory of the season. Massey allowed five hits in six innings, but did not factor into the decision.

Keim was the only Hawkeye to tally a hit in the game, as the junior finished 2-for-3, while scoring the team’s lone run in the sixth.

Iowa (19-15) hosts Michigan State for a two-game Big Ten series this weekend at Pearl Field. Saturday’s opener is set to begin at 2 p.m.