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PHOENIX — The University of Iowa softball team came from behind to top Grand Canyon, 6-5, on Monday in its final game of the Grand Canyon Invitational at the GCU Softball stadium.
Trailing by three entering the seventh inning, Sarah Kurtz hit a single up the middle to score Mallory Kilian and Lea Thompson. On the next play, Allie Wood blasted a double to right center, plating Kurtz to knot the game, 5-5.
In the top of the eighth, Cheyenne Pratt singled and then scored on a GCU error, giving Iowa the 6-5 victory.
Iowa jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Devin Cantu smacked a two-RBI single up the middle, scoring Wood and Aralee Bogar for the 2-0 advantage.
Grand Canyon drew even in the bottom of the third frame before taking advantage of two Hawkeye miscues in the fourth to go up 4-2.
The Lopes added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Hawkeyes responded in the top of the seventh, tying the game to force extra innings before securing the win.
NOTABLES
- Cantu recorded a season-high two RBIs, a mark that also ties her career high.
- Bogar tied a career high with two hits. This is the fourth multi-hit game of her career.
- Kilian has reached base in five straight games.
- Seven Hawkeyes — Bogar (2), Kurtz (1), Wood (2), Cantu (1), McKenzie Schneider (1), Pratt (1), and Taylor Libby (1) — had hits.
QUOTING HEAD COACH MARLA LOOPER
“We came out well and attacked early. Our offense attacked in that first inning and put a couple of runs up, and it was nice to see that happen. Then Grand Canyon plated two to tie it up, and all of a sudden we got back on our heels a little bit. We need to continue to attack. We have talked about that all year, but especially this weekend. Our goal is to put in the effort like we are planning to score each inning.
“As we got into the middle of the game, we didn’t really have that attack mindset at the plate. We looked a little defensive, but it was nice to see them regroup and get that energy back. We need to continue to work as a staff and as a team to set people up for success. It’s starting to happen more often, because they believe in themselves. It was nice to see them fight and scrap and claw to get that W tonight. It was a good way to cap off the weekend before we play a mid-week doubleheader against Arizona State.”
RECORDS UPDATE
- Iowa: 9-8
- GCU: 16-14
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes head to Tempe, Arizona, on Wednesday to face No. 14 Arizona State in a doubleheader, with the first pitch slated for 6 p.m. (CT). Game two will begin approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one. Both games will be live streamed on the Pac 12 Plus Network.
