Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Monthly — April | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2018-19 | Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2) | Boxscore
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team (16-21, 2-10 Big Ten) split day two of its series vs Illinois (26-14, 6-6 Big Ten) on Saturday at Bob Pearl Field.
The Hawkeyes dropped game one in a shootout, 12-11, but won game two, 4-3, thanks to a walk-off error by junior Havyn Monteer.
Junior DoniRae Mayhew went four-for-four in game one, including two home runs and freshman Miranda Schulte hit a grand slam for her first home run of her career.
HEAR FROM COACH GILLISPIE
“The girls fought so hard today. I am very proud of how our girls responded and how Doocy played in the circle.”
“When the fans starting chanting ‘Go Hawks’, you could tell that was the difference. It picked up the kids and won them that game.”
“We knew we had a chance at this game. We talked about keeping it simple. That’s what they did. We’ve been longing that key hit all season long and today we did it twice.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Illinois started off quick, scoring two runs in the first inning off of two hits.
Iowa responded in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Aralee Bogar reached base on a walk and freshman Hallie Ketcham got on base by a hit-by-pitch.
Senior Mallory Kilian advanced Bogar and Ketcham with a single of her own. Freshman Abby Lien got Iowa on the board by drawing a walk and freshman Cameron Cecil tied the game with an RBI.
Iowa stretched its lead with a big second inning, highlighted with a grand slam by freshman Miranda Schulte bringing the score to 7-2.
Illinois responded in the third scoring two runs in the top of third inning.
The Hawkeyes fought back in the third, scoring two runs. Mayhew notched her second hit of the game, Owens scored on a throwing error, and Bogar scored Mayhew on a SAC fly.
Illinois added two more runs in the fourth to make the score 9-6.
Iowa added a run in the fifth with a solo home run by Mayhew.
Illinois responded with a game-changing inning in the sixth, scoring six runs and taking the lead 12-10.
The Hawkeyes responded with a solo home run by Mayhew, her second of the day in the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough for the Hawkeyes as they fell to the Illini 12-11.
Sophomore Sarah Lehman pitched the first five innings. Junior DoniRae Mayhew came in sixth inning, then junior Allison Doocy closed the rest of the game.
Game 2
The Hawkeyes started off things strong in the first inning off of a sacrifice bunt by Kilian to score Bogar. Iowa took an early, 1-0 lead.
The Illini responded scoring one run in the top of the second inning.
After two scoreless innings, Illinois scored one run in the fifth and added an insurance run in the seventh.
Down by two runs, the Hawkeyes tied up the game in the seventh inning. Owens hit a single and Mayhew reached base on a walk. With runners on first and second, freshman Kate
Claypool advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt, putting the tying run in scoring position.
Bogar notched a double to score two runs to tie the game as the game headed to extra innings.
The Hawkeyes loaded the bases in the eighth off of an Illinois error and two bunts and Monteer gave Iowa the walk-off win, 4-3.
Junior Allison Doocy pitched a complete game and notched seven strikeouts.
NOTABLES
- Iowa’s three home runs in game one are the team’s most in a single game this season.
- Schulte’s grand slam in the first game is her first home run of her career.
- Iowa’s game two victory breaks an 11-game skid.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will play at Drake on Wednesday, April 17, at 6 p.m. (CT). Next weekend, Iowa travels to Piscataway, N.J., to play Rutgers in a series starting Friday at 2 p.m. (CT). Live stats will be available at hawkeyesports.com/sblive.