Hawkeyes Drop Opener at IU

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April 30, 2011

Box Score

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The University of Iowa softball team fell to Big Ten-leading Indiana, 3-1, Saturday afternoon at the IU Softball Field. The Hoosiers plated all three runs in the fourth inning, which was more than enough for starter Morgan Melloh, who surrendered just a pair of Hawkeye hits.

“We let some good pitches go by early in the count, and if you give it to a pitcher like that, she’s going to move the ball and hit the corners,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “She’s going to do her best to get ahead early, when we get it deep in the count, we can’t leave it in the umpire’s hand.”

Melloh was the story in the victory, as the Fresno State transfer struck out nine batters (seven looking) in the complete game win. The senior improved her record to 28-14 on the year and bumped her season strike out total to 427.

Indiana’s Amanda Wagner accounted for the game’s first run when she belted a solo home run to left field with one out in the fourth inning. The Hoosiers followed with five straight singles to plate two more runs to grab a 3-0 lead.

The damage could have been much worse, however, but Iowa’s Ashley Akers made a diving catch in the right centerfield gap to rob IU’s Ashley Warrum of a bases clearing extra base hit.

Sophomore Johnnie Dowling plated the Hawkeyes’ lone run when she hit the first pitch of the top of the fifth inning over the left field fence. The long ball was Dowling’s fourth of the season, but it was one of just two Iowa hits against Melloh.

Iowa starter Kayla Massey allowed three runs on eight hits to fall to 12-10 on the year. The freshman had four strikeouts to zero walks in six innings.

Aside from Dowling’s solo home run, Chelsey Carmody accounted for Iowa’s other hit — a two out double in the third inning. The game saw Stephanie Ochoa’s 14-game and Katie Keim’s 10-game hitting streaks come to an end.

Iowa (26-20, 8-7) closes out the two-game series at Indiana tomorrow afternoon beginning at 12 p.m.