Hawkeyes Fall to Hoosiers in 5

Stats

April 26, 2014

BOX SCORE | FINAL STATS

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Hawkeyes dropped game two of the series to Indiana, 9-1, after five innings of play on Saturday afternoon. The loss evens the series between the teams, as Iowa recorded a 1-0 win in game one on Friday.

After the contest, Iowa drops to 14-26-1 overall and 7-12 in Big Ten play. Indiana improves to 15-34-1 overall and 5-14 in conference action.

Indiana jumped ahead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs on two hits. The Hoosiers drew a leadoff walk and singled to put runners on the corners after Iowa got the lead runner at second to ruin a sacrifice bunt. A passed ball allowed the first run of the inning to cross and two walks followed to load the bases.

Shelby Gogreve took advantage of the scoring opportunity, driving in two runs with a single through the right side. Holly Hoffman ended the inning with her 12th caught stealing of the season, which matches her season total from last year.

After a quiet second inning, Indiana plated three runs in the bottom of the third to extend its lead, 6-0. A single to right center started the two-out rally, and an Iowa error and walk loaded the bases. Gogreve delivered once again, clearing the bases with a double to right center.

Micaela Whitney replaced Hawkeye starter Shayla Starkenburg in the circle and forced a groundout to Kaitlyn Mullarkey at first to halt the Hoosier rally.

Indiana continued its scoring streak, adding three runs for the second consecutive inning in the fourth. A double and a single put runners on the corners with no outs, and three RBI singles followed to give Indiana a 9-0 lead.

The Hawkeyes ruined Hoosier starter Brooke Boetjer’s shutout bid in the top of the fifth inning. Alyssa Navarro opened the frame with a single and moved to second base on a Michaela Johnson pinch hit groundout. Brianna Luna came through with a clutch single to right to drive in the lone Hawkeye run of the contest.

Indiana ended the Hawkeye comeback hopes and solidified its 9-1 five-inning win, grabbing a line drive in foul territory at third.

“Indiana came out to play today and attacked us offensively, and we struggled attacking defensively and in the circle ourselves,” head coach Marla Looper said. “We need to get rejuvenated and get our minds right for tomorrow.”

Starkenburg (4-9) took the loss in the circle. She allowed four hits and six runs — three earned. In her 2.2 innings pitched, she struck out one and walked four.

Whitney threw the final 1.1 innings in relief and gave up three runs on five hits. Luna posted the lone RBI of the contest and went 1-for-3 at the plate. Also recording hits for Iowa were Holly Hoffman (1-for-2) and Navarro (1-for-2).

The Hawkeyes and Hoosiers meet for the rubber match of the series on Sunday in Bloomington, Ind. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. (CT).

Indiana 9, Iowa 1 (5 innings) 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Iowa (14-26-1, 7-12) 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 1
Indiana (15-34-1, 5-14) 3 0 3 3 X 9 9 0
Game Decision
W: Boetjer (IND) 4-6
L: Starkenburg (IOWA) 4-9