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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Freshman Allison Doocy tied a career-high seven strikeouts as the University of Iowa softball team defeated Valparaiso, 3-0, in game one of the Hawkeye Invitational at Pearl Field.
“We had a nice night tonight,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “We battled the whole game. We continued to fight, we continued to scrap, and we found ways to get runs across. We executed small ball, and when you do that, you set yourself up for success.
“Doocy had a nice night,” said Looper. “She went right at the hitters and forced them to the hit pitches she wanted them to hit. As a freshman she knows how to step in the circle and throw a good game.”
Allie Wood went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI, while Lea Thompson was 1-for-2 with one run. Kaitlyn Mullarkey, McKenzie Schneider, Havyn Monteer, and Sarah Kurtz also chipped in hits. Doocy earned the win, throwing her seven strikeouts over 7.0 innings.
Iowa took the lead in the bottom of the first inning as Thompson doubled down the left field line and advanced to second on a Mullarkey single before stealing home.
The Hawkeyes added a run in the bottom of the fourth. Wood singled to deep center, advanced to second on a McKenzie Schneider single, and scored on a Sarah Kurtz RBI bunt single. Wood then hit a solo blast in the bottom of the sixth frame for the 3-0 victory.
“It’s nice to start the weekend off with a W,” said Looper. “I’m happy for our team to be here with our fans at Pearl and for our team to show the energy and excitement that our program really has.”
The Hawkeyes (3-16) face South Dakota State on Saturday at 4 p.m. (CT) in game two of the Hawkeye Invitational. Admission for the contest is free.