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CLEARWATER, Fla. — The University of Iowa softball team (10-6) swept the first day of the USF Series, defeating Western Michigan and Binghamton at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida.
Iowa’s opened the tournament with a 6-1 victory over Western Michigan and finished the day with a come-from-behind win over Binghamton, 8-5.
Freshman Sydney Owens combined to go 3-for-6 on Friday with a team-high four RBIs.
HEAR FROM COACH GILLISPIE
“That seventh inning was fantastic. To see the girls rally with their rally caps on was big for us. We saw one through nine hit for us in that inning and we did the little things right. Owens came up with a triple to take the lead and Bogar singled up the middle for another run. Everybody came up and was ready to play in that inning. It was a fantastic moment to see them come together and get that win for us.
We had Kate Claypool and Cameron Cecil do everything they could to get their team going. They were the key and our soul during that inning. We have been here before against Fordham and we knew how to get back.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1 – Western Michigan
The Hawkeye offense got things going in the second inning after a calm first inning from both teams. Freshman Abby Lien reached first on a HBP and was brought in by sophomore Aralee Bogar with a pop fly that fell down the left field line.
The Broncos answered in the top of the third with a run of their own, but Iowa’s offense kept momentum in the bottom half, scoring two more runs.
Senior Mallory Kilian reached base by a HBP, junior DoniRae Mayhew singled, and with two runners in scoring and one out, freshman Sydney Owens sent a ball back up the middle to score Kilian. Lien broke the game open with a double to right center, scoring Mayhew. Iowa took a 3-1 lead.
Iowa added insurance in the bottom of the sixth with three more runs. With junior Havyn Monteer and freshman Kate Claypool on first and second, Bogar’s sac bunt advanced both into scoring position. Freshman Hallie Ketcham reached on an error as Monteer and Claypool both crossed home plate.
Iowa’s final run came due to a Kilian sac fly to center.
Doocy picked up her seventh win of the season and her fifth straight complete game.
Game 2 – Binghamton
For the second straight game, Iowa got on the board first in the second inning. Junior Liz DeShields started the rally with a double to right center on the first pitch of the inning. Owens followed with a single to bring home DeShields, Bogar hit an RBI single to bring home Owens, and Ketcham’s second double of the season scored the Hawkeyes’ third run.
Binghamton scored a run in the bottom of the third to cut Iowa’s lead to 3-1, but the Bearcats’ most damage came in the fifth inning with four runs crossing the plate as they took a 5-3 lead.
Despite loading the bases in the sixth, Iowa couldn’t muster any runs, so the Hawkeyes entered their final at-bat down 5-3.
Mayhew started the inning with a single to right field and was replaced by freshman Kate Claypool to pinch run. After a Lien single, DeShields doubled to right field to bring Claypool home and make the score 5-4. Owens cleared the bases on a 2-2 pitch with a triple to right center to give Iowa a 6-5 lead.
Iowa added insurance runs with RBI singles from sophomore Ashley Hamilton and Bogar to make the score 8-5.
Doocy earned the win in relief of senior Erin Riding.
Riding pitched 4 innings, giving up one run and striking out five.
Iowa’s eight runs are a season high.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes continue the USF Series tomorrow, facing Middle Tennessee State and USF. Game 1 is slated for a 11:30 a.m. (CT) first pitch. Live stats of this weekend’s games are available on hawkeyesports.com/sblive.
