Iowa Drops Decision to Virginia Tech

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ATLANTA – The University of Iowa softball team dropped a 2-1 decision to Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon in game two of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
 
“I thought we had a good shot today to come back and win,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “We were right where we wanted to be, but unfortunately we didn’t get the runs put across today. We made some lineup changes and had some good energy, we just have to learn to win now.”
 
Kaitlyn Mullarkey was a perfect 3-for-3 with a solo home run. Five additional Hawkeyes – Lea Thompson, Allie Wood, Claire Fritsch, Mallory Kilian and Angela Schmiederer – garnered hits. Allison Doocy suffered the loss with four strikeouts over 7.0 innings.
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Hokies (5-2) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but the Hawkeyes answered with a Mullarkey solo home run over left field to even the score in the fourth inning.
 
The score remained knotted at 1-1 over the next two innings before Chelsea Whitcomb hit a solo home run for Virginia Tech in the top of the sixth. Iowa put runners on base in the bottom of the sixth and seventh as Mullarkey, Fritsch and Kilian each hit singles, but the runners were left stranded.
 
“We shouldn’t hang our heads or feel too sorry for ourselves at this point,” said Looper. “We are right on the verge and I am looking for us to bust through and go win these ballgames. We play Georgia Tech tonight, so we have to go out with the same energy and I think we will make things happen. I know we’ll bounce back. I know this group and I believe in them. We’ll make it happen.”
 
Iowa (2-5) takes on Georgia Tech at 4:30 p.m. (CT) in game three of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.