Feb. 18, 2013
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Megan Blank and Kayla Massey have been named to the 2013 Lovelace Invitational All-Tournament Team. Massey, one of two pitchers named to the squad, was named Tournament MVP, and Blank was a unanimous selection. The duo led Iowa to the tournament title.
Iowa (7-3) won the Lovelace Invitational, finishing with a 4-1 mark. The Hawkeyes opened with victories over Dayton (3-0) and Oklahoma State (3-1, 8 innings) on Friday. Iowa continued its winnings ways Saturday, downing Nebraska-Omaha (2-1) and host North Texas (4-1), before dropping a 4-3 decision to Oklahoma State on Sunday. The Hawkeyes and Mavericks both finished 4-1, but Iowa captured the title by way of its head-to-head victory over Nebraska-Omaha.
Massey did it all for the Hawkeyes during the five-game tournament, at the plate and inside the circle. The junior finished the weekend with a 0.39 ERA in three appearances (two starts). She allowed only eight hits in 18 innings pitched and allowed one earned run, while recording 14 strikeouts.
Massey was excellent in both starts. She shut down Oklahoma State on Friday, allowing zero earned runs over eight innings, as she led Iowa to the extra innings victory. She struck out three. Saturday, Massey tossed a gem against host North Texas. She threw another complete game, allowing one run on two Mean Green hits. She equaled a career-best with nine strikeouts. Massey also tossed three scoreless, no-hit innings in relief on Sunday.
At the plate, Massey registered the highest batting average of the tournament. She hit .500, notching six hits in 12 at-bats. She posted two RBIs, a run scored and her first career home run.
Blank hit .400 with two runs scored, six hits, three RBIs, one home run, and a walk. She recorded two multi-hit games. Blank tallied the game-winning long ball in Iowa’s victory against the Cowgirls on Friday.
Iowa continues action this weekend at the Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Hawkeyes open play on Friday against Winthrop (1:30 p.m., CT) and top-ranked Alabama (6 p.m.).