Hawkeyes Drop 2 to Minnesota

Stats

March 23, 2013

Box Score

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Minnesota on Saturday at Pearl Field. Minnesota claimed the opener, 7-3, before winning the second game, 10-1.

“We did not execute at all today, in the circle, offensively, or defensively,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “You are not going to give yourselves a chance if you do not execute. We have to get back to work this week and get back to what we do best. That was not what we put on the field this weekend.”

After two scoreless innings in game one, Minnesota opened the scoring with a three-spot in the top of the third. Iowa answered, plating two runs in the bottom half. The Hawkeyes used RBI singles from Michelle Zoeller and Sammi Gyerman.

The Golden Gophers responded in the next frame, scoring three runs for the second-straight inning. Trailing 6-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, Iowa tallied a run to cut the lead to 6-3 on an RBI single by Johnnie Dowling. Minnesota pushed across a single tally in the seventh to make the final score, 7-3, and take the opener.

The Hawkeye out-hit the Gophers, 9-8, but left nine runners on base. Dowling and Gyerman both posted multi-hit games. Dowling finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Gyerman equaled a season high with three hits, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

Sara Moulton (17-6) earned her second-straight victory against the Hawkeyes, tossing a complete seven innings. Hawkeye senior Chelsea Lyon took the loss (8-5), allowing six runs on seven hits in five and two-thirds. She struck out three Gophers. Freshman Micaela Whitney pitched an inning and a third in relief, allowing one run. She struck out two.

The Hawkeyes struck first in the nightcap with a run in the bottom of the first. Dowling walked to open the frame. With two outs, Zoeller singled to bring home Dowling and give Iowa a 1-0 advantage.

After leaving the bases loaded in each of the first three innings, Minnesota pushed across 10 runs over the final four innings to earn the opening weekend sweep.

Iowa left 11 runners on base. Six Hawkeyes (Dowling, Bradi Wall, Megan Blank, Zoeller, Kayla Massey, Holly Hoffman) found the hit column.

Massey took the loss (9-6) in the circle, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits in five and two-thirds. She equaled a career best with nine strikeouts, but allowed nine walks. Nikki Anderson earned the win (3-1) for Minnesota.

“We talk about being the aggressor every day,” said Looper. “We were far from that this weekend. We attempted, getting runners on in the first few innings, but we would not do anything with them. Minnesota took advantage of every opportunity they had.”

Iowa continues action next weekend in Iowa City against Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes will host the Badgers in a three-game series beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 29. Iowa and Wisconsin will conclude the set with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 30. Start times are scheduled for 1 and 3 p.m.

“Every team we will face from this point on has the same goal we do, to win that championship,” said Looper. “Every team we are going to face is quality. We have to worry about ourselves, and not care who is on the other side of the white line.”