Iowa Wins 3rd Straight

Stats

Feb. 19, 2012

Box Score

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PHOENIX, Ariz. — The University of Iowa softball team posted its third straight victory, downing Central Michigan, 4-2, in its Littlewood Classic finale. The game was played in Phoenix at Snow Mountain Community College.

The Chippewas grabbed the early lead, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in their first at-bat. Macy Merchant reached on an error to start the game before Molly Coldren hit a two-run home run over the right centerfield fence.

Iowa answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first to even the tally at two. Junior Johnnie Dowling led off the frame with a single to left center before moving to second on an Ashley Akers sacrifice bunt and to third on a wild pitch.

Seniors Katie Keim and Liz Watkins then followed with consecutive RBI doubles to tie the game.

Iowa grabbed the 3-2 lead in the fourth inning. Sophomore Kayla Massey reached via a one-out single to left field, and pinch runner Sydney Reynolds stole second to move into scoring position. Reynolds came around to score when Chippewa short stop CarolAnn Sexauer couldn’t come up with a pop up to shallow centerfield.

Keim gave the Hawkeyes some breathing room in the bottom of the fifth inning. The senior drilled an 0-1 pitch over the left field fence to make the score 4-2. It was Keim’s team-leading third long ball this season.

Massey picked up her third win in the circle for Iowa, allowing two runs — both unearned — on five hits in the complete game victory. The sophomore finished with a season-best seven strikeouts to three walks in the contest.

Keim and sophomore Brianna Luna collected half of Iowa’s eight hits in the game. Keim went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI, while Luna was 2-for-3.

Iowa (6-4) returns to action Friday, facing Fresno State at 2:30 p.m. (CT) in Palm Springs, Calif., in its Cathedral City Classic opener.