Errors Costly in 6-1 Setback to No. 13 Arizona

Stats

March 17, 2012

Box Score

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FULLERTON, Calif. — Three errors proved to be costly, as the University of Iowa softball team dropped a 6-1 decision to No. 13 Arizona on Friday night at Anderson Family Field in the Judi Garman Classic.

Three Hawkeye miscues led to the Wildcats’ first three runs. Arizona plated one in the first inning on a failed pickoff attempt, one in the third on a miscue by second baseman Bradi Wall and one in the fifth on a booted ball by third baseman Melanie Gladden.

“We made a couple of defensive mistakes, mental errors, wild pitches, passed balls, when those things happen, it’s hard to maintain control of the game,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “The nice thing offensively, after one time through the lineup our offense made adjustments and kept putting the ball in play.

“We eventually got a run on the board, which was nice to see because Arizona doesn’t give up many runs. It was good to put one up, and we had a chance to put more than one up throughout the game.”

Iowa plated its lone run in the fourth inning, sending seven batters to the plate against UA starter Kenzie Fowler. Freshman Megan Blank walked to lead off the inning before junior Ashley Akers had a bunt single to put two runners on.

After senior Katie Keim’s sacrifice moved the runners up a base, junior Johnnie Dowling’s RBI groundout made the score 2-1. After a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases, Fowler got out of the jam by getting freshman Tor Hawley to fly out to left field.

Iowa’s run was the first scored against Arizona in seven games, and it snapped Fowler’s scoreless inning streak at 38.

After pushing their third run across the plate in the top of the fifth, the Wildcats added two in the sixth and one in the seventh. Catcher Perelini Koria hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to make the score 6-1.

Lyon suffered the loss in the circle for the Hawkeyes, allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits in 5.1 innings pitched. She had five strikeouts, but issued five walks, as she fell to 5-7 on the year. Fowler improved to 8-0 for Arizona, allowing one run on three hits with nine strikeouts.

Akers accounted for two of Iowa’s three hits in the game, while Blank went 1-for-2 with a run scored.

Should Mother Nature cooperate, Iowa (10-13) will return to action Saturday morning, facing No. 11 Louisiana-Lafayette at 1 p.m. (CT).