No. 10 Missouri Takes 2 From Iowa

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March 21, 2012

Box Score

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COLUMBIA, Mo. — No. 10 Missouri took a pair of games from the University of Iowa softball team Wednesday at University Field. The Tigers won the opener, 8-0, in five innings before posting a 2-0 victory in the night cap.

The Hawkeyes fall to 10-15 on the season, while Missouri improves to 22-3. The loss drops Iowa’s record to 1-10 against nationally-ranked competition.

The Tigers struck first in the opening game, pushing two runs across the plate in the bottom of the third inning. Following a one-out single by Corrin Genovese to right center, Tiger centerfielder Ashley Fleming connected on a two-run long ball to right centerfield to give MU the 2-0 lead.

That was more than enough for Missouri starter Chelsea Thomas. The junior allowed a single hit in a complete game shutout, retiring the final 13 Hawkeyes in order. Thomas finished with seven strikeouts to zero walks in the contest, as she improved her record to 11-1.

The Tigers ended the game early by plating six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. After three straight singles to open the inning, Fleming drew a bases loaded walk to plate the third run. Two runners scored via hit by pitches and two on RBI singles before Jenna Martson drew a bases loaded walk to push across the game-winning run.

Sophomore Kayla Massey took the loss, allowing eight runs on seven hits to fall to 5-7 on the season. Freshman Megan Blank went 1-for-2 to tally Iowa’s lone hit to extend her hitting streak to nine games.

In the night cap, Missouri plated its first run in the bottom of the third inning. Genovese scored from second base on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kayla Kingsley. Kingsley’s fly ball floated to right centerfield where Johnnie Dowling and Tor Hawley collided, allowing Genovese to score and make the score 1-0.

The Tigers led off the bottom of the fourth inning with three straight singles, which led to them pushing their second run across the plate. With one out, Brianna Corwin hit a grounder back to Chelsea Lyon in the circle, but the UI pitcher couldn’t handle it, allowing Nicole Hudson to score. The Hawkeyes got out of the jam, however, courtesy of a 1-2-3 double play.

Iowa threatened in its final at-bat, as junior Ashley Akers singled with two outs. Blank followed with a double into the left centerfield gap, but was thrown out at second base to end the game after getting caught in no man’s land when Akers was planted at third base.

Lyon took the loss for Iowa, allowing two runs on seven hits in the complete game. The junior had two strikeouts to one walk in six innings.

Four Hawkeyes — Blank, Dowling, Ashley Akers and Liz Watkins — collected hits for Iowa in the game. Blank’s went 2-for-4 with a double to extend her hitting streak to 10 games.

The Hawkeyes return to action Saturday, hosting Wisconsin in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The game is Iowa’s 2012 Big Ten Conference and Pearl Field opener.