Sept. 14, 2015
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team started its fall season on a high note, recording a 9-0 shutout win over Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) at Bob Pearl Field on Sept. 11.
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“Overall, it was a good start,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “It was great to get back on the field, get people involved, and see some depth in the circle.”
The Hawkeyes got on the board early, scoring their first two runs in the bottom of the first. Junior Claire Fritsch drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on grounder to third. After redshirt junior Sammi Gyerman reached on an error by the DMACC second baseman, Holly Hoffman sent a two-run double to right to give the Hawkeyes a 2-0 lead.
After redshirt junior Shayla Starkenburg struck out the side in the top of the second, the Hawkeyes tacked on two more runs. Sophomore transfer Katy Taylor reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on a groundout. Erickson capitalized on the RBI opportunity with a double to center. Gyerman kept the rally going with a single to center, as Erickson came around to score on a throwing error by the DMACC second baseman.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Gyerman and Hoffman recorded back-to-back singles. Sophomore Sarah Kurtz followed, reaching on an error that allowed Gyerman to score. With sophomore Allie Wood at the plate, the Bears committed another error that plated Hoffman and gave the Hawkeyes a 6-0 lead.
Iowa tacked on another run in the fifth. Sophomore Angela Schmiederer led off the inning with a walk and Mullarkey moved her over on a bunt single. Fritsch followed with an RBI single to extend the Iowa lead to 7-0.
The Hawkeyes added their final two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Wood got it started with a single, and freshman Brooke Rozier kept it going with a single of her own. Taylor followed with an RBI ground to third. After junior Kaitlyn Mullarkey reached on a fielder’s choice and swiped a pair of bags, sophomore Ashley Yoways sent an RBI single through the left side to seal the 9-0 victory.
The Hawkeyes tallied 15 hits in the contest. Wood paced the team with three, while Erickson, Gyerman and Hoffman each added two.
Five Iowa pitchers saw action on the mound, including Starkenburg, junior transfer Liz Wiegand, freshmen Erin Riding and Mallory Kilian, and senior Jillian Navarrete. The hurlers combined to allow no runs on just three DMACC hits in eight innings.
The Hawkeyes resume play against St. Ambrose at 1 p.m. (CT) on Sunday, Sept. 20, at Bob Pearl Field in Iowa City.
