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LINCOLN, Neb. — The University of Iowa softball team split a pair of games with Nebraska on Tuesday in Lincoln. The Hawkeyes took down the Huskers, 2-1, in game one before dropping a 3-0 decision in game two.
GAME ONE
Iowa jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second against Nebraska ace Kaylan Jablonski.
Sophomore Taylor Libby doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a one-out RBI sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore McKenzie Schneider.
The Huskers tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run. Two innings later, Iowa took the lead in the sixth. With one out, sophomore Lea Thompson hit a first-pitch base hit to center.
The speedy Thompson reached third in the next at-bat when freshman Aralee Bogar singled to right. She tagged up and scored the winning run on senior Allie Wood’s sacrifice fly to center.
Sophomore pitcher Allison Doocy (12-8) notched her 12th win of the season and fourth in Big Ten play. The Ankeny, Iowa, native allowed just one run on three hits and threw five strikeouts in the contest.
GAME TWO
After three-and-a-half scoreless innings, Nebraska used three singles to gain a 1-0 advantage in the fourth inning.
The Huskers added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning, taking advantage of an Iowa error and notching an RBI double while extending the lead to 3-0.
The Hawkeyes had their scoring chances but were unable to plate any runs. Iowa collected six hits but left eight runners on base in the contest.
Freshman Lauren Shaw (3-7) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits over 5.0 innings. She had four strikeouts without issuing a walk.
QUOTING HEAD COACH MARLA LOOPER
“We had chances throughout the second game to get runners across, but unfortunately Nebraska did a good job of playing defense and they held us at bay.”
“Across the board, today was about the pitching. Neither team produced a lot of offense. Doocy did a nice job in the first game and Shaw was rolling pretty good in the second. You have to tip your hat to all of the pitchers today.”
“I didn’t feel like our energy was very good in game two and we didn’t stick to our game plan very well.”
RECORDS UPDATE
Iowa: 19-18, 5-5
Nebraska: 28-14, 6-5
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return home to host Minnesota in a weekend series beginning on Friday at 5 p.m. (CT). Game two of the series is slated for Saturday at 2 p.m., with the series finale set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
