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SAN MARCOS, Texas – The University of Iowa softball team dropped a 3-1 decision to Abilene Christian in its final game of the CenturyLink Classic on Sunday morning. The Hawkeyes are now 2-3 on the season.
“We have to learn from this weekend,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “If we don’t, we are throwing away an opportunity to be better. The last few games, we were playing the opponent too often, instead of just playing the game. When we play the game instead of the opponent, I really feel that the wins are going to come. Now we have to regroup and not wait until Tuesday to get prepared for next weekend. It starts right now, learning from this weekend and moving forward from here.”
Senior Claire Fritsch finished 1-for-3 with a run scored. Angela Schmiederer registered a hit and an RBI, and Taylor MaKowsky had two strikeouts over 3.2 innings and suffered the loss.
The Hawkeyes scored first in the top of the second inning. Fritsch singled through the right side, stole second, and scored on an RBI single up the middle by Schmiederer.
Abilene Christian tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. Holly Neese singled through the left side and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Casey-May Huff was walked before Kaleigh Singleton hit a single to left field to load the bases. Brianna Barnhill was then hit by a pitch to score Neese and tie the game at 1-1. Iowa’s Katy Taylor caught a ball in foul territory to end the inning as the Wildcats left three stranded.
ACU took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning an a Huff solo home run down the left field line. Huff added another solo home run in the sixth inning.
The Hawkeyes take the field again Friday as they travel to Atlanta to take on Virginia Tech at 11:30 a.m. (CT) in the first game of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Hawkeyes play both Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech twice between Friday and Sunday during the Challenge.