Lyon's 1-Hitter Propels Iowa to a Split

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April 13, 2011

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

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MINNEAPOLIS — The University of Iowa softball team salvaged a doubleheader split Wednesday at Minnesota. The Hawkeyes dropped the opener to the Golden Gophers, 4-2, before tallying a 2-1 victory in the night cap.

“I think we finished the day out well, strong,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “Unfortunately, we let the first one slip away, as we didn’t play the way we know how to. We found a way to make a change and were able come back and get a victory in the second game.”

In the opener, Minnesota plated all four of its runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Mallory Mitchell, Aubrey Davis, Bree Blanchette and Malisa Barnes all tallied RBI singles for the Gophers in the frame.

The Hawkeyes pushed two runs across the plate in the sixth inning to cut the lead in half. Chelsey Carmody singled through the left side to lead off the frame before moving to second on a passed ball. Stephanie Ochoa followed with a single up the middle to plate Carmody before moving all the way to third base on an error by Blanchette in centerfield.

Junior Liz Watkins drove in the final run when she pushed a bunt in between the pitcher and third baseman to make the score 4-2. Minnesota starter Sara Moulton, however, got a force out at second base and a strikeout before Brianna Luna was picked off at first base to end the threat.

Moulton notched her 21st victory in the game, striking out 10 Iowa batters, while scattering six hits in the complete game.

Keim paced the Hawkeyes at the plate, going 2-for-4. She finished with one third of Iowa’s six hits.

The Hawkeyes used an exceptional pitching effort from sophomore Chelsea Lyon in the night cap to run out 2-1 winners. The Oklahoma native allowed a single hit in the contest and finished with three strikeouts.

Iowa pushed both of its runs across the plate in the top of the third inning. Sophomore Ashley Akers reached on an error to lead off the frame before moving to second base on a Carmody groundout. Ochoa then followed with an infield single to put two runners on with one out.

Ochoa then tried stealing second to garner a throw to allow Akers to score from third. Akers, however, got caught in a run down, but a throwing error by third baseman Alex Davis allowed Akers to score and Ochoa to move up to third. Ochoa plated the second run on an Alissa Koch wild pitch.

Minnesota cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning on a two-out solo home run by Barnes down the right field line. That, however, was the only hit Lyon would allow in the game.

Keim and senior Jenny Schuelke paced the Hawkeyes at the plate. Keim tallied her second straight multi-hit contest, going 2-for-4, while Schuelke went 2-for-3.

Iowa (22-16, 5-3) returns to action Saturday, hosting Northwestern at Pearl Field. Game time is set for 2 p.m.