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IOWA CITY, Iowa – Allie Wood’s RBI double to left center in the bottom of the sixth inning solidified the University of Iowa softball team’s 4-3 win over No. 17 Michigan during the second game of Iowa’s conference-opening series Friday at Pearl Field. Iowa dropped game one, 4-1.
The Hawkeye bats were hot in game two after suffering a loss in game one that extended Michigan’s win streak to 18.
In game two, sophomore McKenzie Schneider was behind in the count when she sent a triple to right center that plated sophomore Lea Thompson. Schneider later scored off an RBI by senior Daniella Ibarra for the 2-0 advantage.
Michigan was able to score one run in the fifth inning, but the Hawkeyes responded in the sixth with a pair of runs by seniors Mallory Kilian and Sarah Kurtz. The Hawkeyes were sent home by a two-RBI double off the bat of Wood, giving Iowa the 4-1 lead.
“In the first game, I did pretty well at the plate, but at the start of the second game my head was all over the place,” said Wood, “I talked to [associate head coach Adrianna Bagetta] and calmed down. I made the adjustments I needed to make and didn’t worry about doing too much. I just did what I was supposed to do, and I’m glad I was able to be in that position to help the team.”
The Wolverines picked up two more runs in the seventh, but they were unable to capitalize on a bases-loaded situation as the Hawkeyes secured the victory. Sophomore pitcher Allison Doocy picked up her second strikeout of the game before Wood ended the Michigan comeback attempt with a catch in center.
Doocy is 8-5 after throwing two complete games on the day. The Ankeny, Iowa, native collected 10 total strikeouts over 14.0 innings pitched. She also started in the circle in Iowa’s first game against Michigan and suffered the loss.
NOTABLES
- Iowa’s game two victory ended an 18 game win streak for No. 17 Michigan. The maize and blue hadn’t lost a game since Feb. 24 when they fell, 1-0, to Virginia Tech at the Texas Invitational.
- The win was Iowa’s first over Michigan since 2015.
- Allie Wood collected three RBIs on Friday. She now has 13 total on the season.
- Five Hawkeyes collected hits during the doubleheader: Allie Wood (3), Angela Schmeiderer (1), Lea Thompson (1), Cheyenne Pratt (1), McKenzie Schneider (2).
- McKenzie Schneider’s triple was the first of her career.
- Mallory Kilian was hit by pitch twice in game one of the doubleheader. She leads the team with five HBP.
QUOTING HEAD COACH MARLA LOOPER
“The decision to throw Doocy in both games was mostly because she was handling them well. They really only had one big hit off of her in game one, and to me that’s a sign of the pitcher doing a great job. I wanted to roll with her as long as we could.
“Allie has really been locked in. She hasn’t had balls fall her way all season, but she really squared that one up in the corner and drove it to the right side. Good things happen when you have runners on.”
RECORDS UPDATE
Iowa: 13-13
No. 17 Michigan: 24-7
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes finish up their three game series against No. 17 Michigan on Saturday at 2 p.m. (CT) at Pearl Field in Iowa City.
