Hawkeyes Edge Nittany Lions, 1-0

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May 7, 2011

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Freshman Michelle Zoeller scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the University of Iowa softball team to a 1-0 victory over Penn State Saturday night at Pearl Field.

Zoeller reached in the Hawkeyes’ final-at bat with a single up the middle with one out. After moving to second on a Katie Keim groundout, Zoeller rounded the bases when PSU’s Lauren Yao booted a hard hit Chelsey Carmody grounder at second base to send Iowa to the 1-0 win.

“During middle of the game, we said to work on using the ground to put the ball in play to give ourselves a chance,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “Earlier when Zoeller was up, she did and the shortstop couldn’t make the play. Then the second baseman couldn’t quite come up with Carmody’s so that gave us a chance to score.”

Iowa missed out on golden opportunities to jump on the Nittany Lions early, as it left the bases loaded in the first inning and a pair of runners on in the second.

Penn State’s threatened to grab the lead itself in the top of the fifth, but Iowa starter was up to the challenge, as the sophomore pitched around a pair of infield singles to open the frame. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Lyon snared a Morgan Long grounder, and she threw out Yao at home. She then struck out Cassidy Bell looking to end the Nittany Lion threat.

Lyon scattered six hits in notching her second complete game shutout of the season. The sophomore struck out six PSU batters and surrendered just one base on ball.

“It’s kind of nice to get a pitcher’s duel today,” said Looper. “Chelsea did a nice job. Her change-up was pretty nasty, and it was good to see that. So were her other pitches… she was mixing the ball, up, down, in and out… doing a good job of hitting the umpire’s zone.”

Senior Stephanie Ochoa paced the Hawkeyes at the plate, going 2-for-3. Brianna Luna, Jenny Schuelke and Zoeller accounted for Iowa’s other three hits.

The Hawkeyes (27-23, 9-10) close out the regular season and the two-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. Following the game, Iowa will hold its Senior Day festivities to honor Carmody, Ochoa and Schuelke.