No. 19/23 Minnesota Downs Iowa in Series Opener

May 6, 2016

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team fell to No. 19/23 Minnesota, 14-3, at Bob Pearl Field on Friday evening.

The Hawkeyes and Golden Gophers battled early, taking a 3-3 tie into the fifth inning before Minnesota plated 12 runs over the final four frames.

Iowa struck first, plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning. After two quick outs, redshirt junior Sammi Gyerman got the rally started with a single to right. Senior Holly Hoffman followed with an RBI double to put the Hawkeyes on the board. Sophomore Angela Schmiederer kept the rally alive with an RBI single up the middle to give the Hawkeyes a 2-0 lead.

The Golden Gophers came storming back in the top of the second. A single and a pair of RBI doubles knotted the game, 2-2.

Kaitlyn Mullarkey regained the lead for the Hawkeyes in the bottom of the third. The junior sent her ninth home run of the season and the 15th of her career over the centerfield wall to put the Hawkeyes ahead, 3-2. Mullarkey’s nine home runs moved her into eighth on Iowa’s all-time list for home runs in a season, while her 15 career home runs ranks 15th all-time.

“I was proud of the way our kids came out and punched first,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “Coming into today, we knew it was going to be a hefty bout. We punched first, they punched back, then we punched again, and we just have to continue to give those jabs.”

It was all Minnesota from there; however, as the Golden Gophers scored 12 runs in three of the final four innings. A solo home run in the top of the fourth tied the game, 3-3, before a four-run fifth and a seven-run seventh secured the 14-3 victory.

Gyerman led the Hawkeyes at the dish, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and a run scored. Hoffman Schmiederer, and Mullarkey each registered an RBI.

Elizabeth Wiegand took the loss in the circle. The junior allowed six earned runs on six hits and three walks in 4 and 1/3. Redshirt junior Shayla Starkenburg, senior Jillian Navarrete, and sophomore Ashley Yoways also saw action in the circle.

The Hawkeyes (13-37; 3-18) and Golden Gophers (36-12; 17-3) continue the series tomorrow. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. (CT) from Bob Pearl Field.