Hawkeyes Fall in Regular Season Finale

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May 8, 2011

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team dropped its regular season finale, 3-2, to Penn State Sunday afternoon at Pearl Field. The Hawkeyes finish the 2011 season with a 27-24 overall record and a 9-11 mark in Big Ten play.

Iowa got off to a quick start, plating single runs in the first and second innings. The Hawkeyes loaded the bases in its first at-bat of the afternoon behind Chelsey Carmody and Liz Watkins singles and via Stephanie Ochoa reaching reaching on a fielder’s choice. Freshman Brianna Luna tallied the RBI when she drew a four pitch walk to make the score 1-0.

The damage could have been worse, but Penn State starter Jackie Hill struck out Johnnie Dowling swinging before getting the third out via an interference call on Ochoa at third base.

The Hawkeyes plated their second run in inning two. Freshman Michelle Zoeller doubled to lead off the frame before coming around to cross the plate on Katie Keim’s RBI double to centerfield.

The Nittany Lions cut the lead in half in the top of the third on Alyssa Sovereign’s RBI double before pushing two runs across the plate in the top of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Penn State scored the go-ahead run when Cassidy Bell scored from second base following an error on Zoeller at third.

Freshman Kayla Massey took the loss in the circle, allowing three runs (two earned) in 3.1 innings of work. Chelsea Lyon was effective in relief, scattering a pair of hits over 3.2 innings pitched.

Zoeller paced the Hawkeyes at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a run scored. All three seniors — Carmody, Ochoa and Jenny Schuelke — had base hits in their final collegiate games.