Rally Falls Short in Middle Game

Stats

April 27, 2013

Box Score

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team dropped a 6-5 decision to Penn State in the middle game of a three-game set Saturday at Pearl Field. The Nittany Lions scored all six runs in the third inning on their way to their second-straight victory in the series.

Iowa struck first in the opening inning. Johnnie Dowling started things off with a single, before scoring with two outs on a passed ball.

Penn State took advantage of three Hawkeye errors, to go along with five hits, plating six runs in the third.

“One inning has really hurt us,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “We have to do a better job controlling what we can. We did not do that today. Opponents are capitalizing, and we are not.”

Trailing 6-1, the home team plated two in the bottom of the third on an RBI single to left center by Kayla Massey.

Iowa cut the lead to 6-5 with two more runs in the fifth. Bradi Wall walked to lead-off the inning and advanced to third on an RBI double off the wall in left by Megan Blank. Michelle Zoeller followed with a single to right to score Wall from third. Blank came home to score on a sacrifice fly by Massey.

The Hawkeyes notched a hit in the sixth on a perfect bunt single by Ashley Akers, but were unable to push across the game-tying run.

Penn State’s Macy Jones earned her second win in as many days to move to 12-14. She allowed zero runs on three hits in three innings. Jordan Wheatley started, allowing three runs in three and a third.

Micaela Whitney made her second career start in Big Ten play. The freshman took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) in two and a third. Senior Chelsea Lyon pitched the final four and two-thirds in scoreless fashion. She struck out five Nittany Lions, surrendering two hits.

“Chelsea did a really nice job for us today in relief,” said Looper. “I was proud of her.”

The Hawkeyes out-hit the visitors, 9-8. Zoeller paced the offense with her 11th multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Freshman Sammi Gyerman posted her fifth multiple-hit outing, going 2-for-3. Blank, last week’s Big Ten Player of the Week, has reached base in 34-straight games, including all 19 of Iowa’s league contests.

Iowa falls to 25-23 overall and 4-15 in league play; Penn State improves to 14-30 and 4-14 in conference play.

Iowa and Penn State conclude the series with the finale Sunday at 1 p.m. The contest will serve as Iowa’s Senior Day.