Texas Tops Iowa, 9-1

Stats

March 15, 2014

Final Stats

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BOX SCORE

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AUSTIN, Texas — University of Iowa softball dropped game one of its series at Texas to the Longhorns, 9-1 in five innings. Iowa falls to 4-11 overall following the run rule loss, while Texas moves to 17-13.

Texas reached the scoreboard first, scoring a run in the bottom of the third. The Longhorns led off with a double, used a sacrifice bunt to move the runner up to third, and recorded a shallow hit to left field to plate the run.

The Hawkeye offense answered in the top of the fourth inning, evening the score 1-1. Erin Erickson led off with a single to center and came around to score on a Kayla Massey two-out, stand-up double to center field. It marked her third double and seventh RBI of the season.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Longhorns plated four runs on five hits and an error to regain an advantage, 5-1. After a lead off bunt single and stolen base put a runner in scoring position, the Longhorns used a single, error, walk and another single to plate three runs.

In the top of the fifth with one out on the board, Whitney Repole and Claire Fritsch reached on a pinch hit single to right and a walk, respectively. Brianna Luna punched a single through to right field for her second hit of the contest, moving Repole to third. Fritsch, who had to tag up on the play if the ball was caught, was thrown out at second on the play. Texas forced a fly out to collect the third out and end the Hawkeye scoring threat.

The Longhorn offense continued to produce in the bottom half of the fifth inning, plating four runs on five hits. Texas secured the 9-1, run rule win with a walk off, two RBI single to right from the bat of Stephanie Ceo.

Hawkeye leadoff batter Luna paced the offense, reaching base in every at bat with two singles and a walk. It was the senior’s first time appearing in the lineup since injuring herself in the 2014 season opener against UNC Greensboro on Feb. 7.

“Brianna did exactly what we were expecting her to do,” head coach Marla Looper said. “She is a little spark plug. There is a reason why she started the season as our leadoff hitter. She’s going to get after it at all times. That’s just who she is and what she does, and it’s her senior year so why not just lay it out on the line. We were happy to have her back in the lineup.”

Also adding hits for Iowa were Erickson (1-for-3), Massey (1-for-2), and Repole (1-for-1). Massey recorded the lone RBI.

Massey (2-7) was tagged with the loss in the circle. She allowed 11 hits and nine runs in her 4.2 innings pitched. Micaela Whitney came in to face the final Texas batter of the game.

Longhorn starter Tiarra Davis (6-6) collected the win. She held Iowa to five hits and one run, and struck out six in her five innings pitched.

Game two of the series will begin at 4 p.m. (CT) on Sunday. Fans can follow along with the action through livestats or the live stream. Links are available on the softball schedule page at hawkeyesports.com. The game will also be shown live on the Longhorn Network.