Iowa Drops Series Finale to Texas

Stats

March 17, 2014

Final Stats

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BOX SCORE

AUSTIN, Texas — The Hawkeye softball team fell to Texas in the rubber match of the series on Monday night, 3-0. The Iowa offense was held to one hit in the contest and left five runners on base.

Iowa drops to 5-12 on the season following the loss, while Texas moves to 18-14. The Longhorns reached the scoreboard in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs with two outs. A triple started off the rally and a pair of walks followed to load up the bases. A double plated two runs before the Hawkeyes could end the inning with a groundout to second baseman Claire Fritsch.

In the bottom of the second, Texas extended its lead to 3-0. A single and an Iowa miscue put two runners on with no outs. The Hawkeyes used an Alyssa Navarro to Megan Blank fielder’s choice to get the first out at second base. With runners on the corners, catcher Holly Hoffman caught her ninth runner stealing second base to record the second out of the inning, but the Longhorns came through with their second triple of the game to score the runner from third.

A Navarro walk and a Fritsch single to right — Iowa’s lone hit of the game — put two consecutive runners on base for Iowa in the top of the third, but the Texas defense kept the Hawkeyes out of the scoring column with a fly out, strikeout and groundout.

The Hawkeyes stranded a pair of runners once again in the top of the fifth. Hoffman was plunked with a pitch and replaced on the basepaths by pinch runner Kaitlyn Mullarkey. After Navarro moved Mullarkey into scoring position at second with a sacrifice bunt, Fritsch drew a walk to reach for the second time in the contest and put two aboard for Iowa with one out. Iowa could not push a run across, as a flyout and a groundout put the inning in the books.

The Texas defense retired the Hawkeyes in order in the sixth and seventh to solidify its 3-0 win. Longhorn starting pitcher Tiarra Davis earned the complete game shutout win and held the Iowa offense to one hit in the contest. She recorded nine strikeouts.

Massey (2-8) took the loss in the circle for the Hawkeyes. She allowed nine hits and three earned runs in her six innings pitched.

Fritsch reached in each at bat of the contest, recording single in the third and a walk in the fifth.

“She did a good job of being patient and didn’t try to do too much,” head coach Marla Looper said. “I wish we could have advanced some runners further than second on her single. In her next at bat, she did a nice job drawing a walk. She didn’t swing at things out of the zone and gave herself a chance to be productive for us.”

The Hawkeyes continue their road trip on Wednesday, March 19 with a single game at Texas State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. (CT).