Softball Tops Penn State, Evens Series

April 23, 2016

IOWA44

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team scored four runs in the third inning to defeat Penn State, 4-1, on Awareness Day at Bob Pearl Field on Saturday afternoon. The Hawkeyes (13-31; 3-13) handed the Nittany Lions (25-18; 12-4) their fourth Big Ten loss of the season with the win.

“We did a good job of refocusing after last night and came out today ready to attack from the get-go,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “We played one pitch at a time today.”

Elizabeth Wiegand went the distance in the circle. The junior allowed one earned run on five hits in seven innings of work. She walked one and struck out two.

“Liz (Wiegand) started out strong the mound,” said Looper. “The defense really took care of the ball for us. Offensively, it took us awhile, but once we got on the board, we continued to fight.”

The Hawkeyes chased the Penn State starter out of the game when they loaded the bases with one out in the second inning. Although the Hawkeyes were held scoreless in the inning, they came out firing in the third. Iowa sent 10 batters to the plate in the four-run inning.

Junior Kaitlyn Mullarkey started the rally when she reached first on a hit by pitch, and redshirt junior Sammi Gyerman followed with a single up the middle. With two runners on, senior Holly Hoffman hit a two-run double to right center to put the Hawkeyes on the board. A walk by Angela Schmiederer and a Claire Fritsch bunt single loaded the bases, before sophomore Sarah Kurtz came through with an two-run single to give the Hawkeyes a 4-0 lead.

Penn State got one back in the fifth, plating a run on a walk and a pair of singles. Wiegand and the Iowa defense limited the damage; however, as the Hawkeyes went on to win, 4-1.

Claire Fritsch led the Hawkeyes at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort. The junior registered a pair of singles and scored a run. Hoffman and Kurtz each knocked in a pair of runs for the Hawkeyes.

“It was a great day,” said Looper. “It was great to start off with our seven organizations throwing out the first pitch. Our girls have had a great time working with those organizations. This is a good group. They care and they want to do more for our community. I’m glad we could share that with our fans today.”

The rubber match between the Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions is set for 1 p.m. (CT) tomorrow. The first 150 fans in attendance will receive free sunglasses.