Nittany Lions Top Hawkeyes in Opener

Stats

April 26, 2013

Box Score

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team dropped a 6-3 decision to Penn State in the opening game of a three-game series on Friday night at Pearl Field.

Penn State scored the game’s first run in the top of the third on three walks and a single. Iowa evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom half, as Johnnie Dowling scored on an RBI single to right by Bradi Wall.

The Nittany Lions posted five runs on four hits and two Hawkeye errors in the top of the fifth to grab a 6-1 lead. Iowa responded with two runs in bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Kayla Massey and an RBI single by Holly Hoffman to cut the lead to 6-3.

Penn State starter Macy Jones retired the Hawkeyes in order in the seventh to close out the complete game victory. Jones allowed three runs on six hits to move to 11-14.

Massey took the loss, falling to 14-12. She allowed six runs (three earned) on eight hits in four and two-thirds. Micaela Whitney tossed two and a third scoreless innings in relief.

Hoffman notched her sixth multi-hit game of the season, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI. Dowling, Wall, Megan Blank and Ashley Akers also found the hit column. Blank, last week’s Big Ten Player of the Week, has reached base in 33-straight games, including all 18 of Iowa’s league contests.

Iowa falls to 25-22 overall and 4-14 in league play; Penn State improves to 13-30 and 3-14 in conference play.

Iowa and Penn State continue action with the middle game of their three-game set Saturday at Pearl Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will serve as Iowa Softball Alumni Day.