Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Monthly — February | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2019-20 | Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (PDF) | Boxscore
HONOLULU, HI – The University of Iowa softball team (9-2) won its first two games at the Hawai’i Invitational on Friday thanks to a strong defensive showing and a Nia Carter walk-off single. Iowa defeated Portland State, 8-3, in the first game. Iowa claimed its second victory of the day in thrilling fashion over UMKC, 2-1.
Senior Allison Doocy tabbed Iowa’s opening win over Portland State. In addition to tying her season-high 12 strikeouts, Doocy (3-1) tossed seven innings, giving up three runs.
Junior Aralee Bogar led the way offensively for the Hawkeyes in the first game, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs. Sophomore Kit Rocco compiled a standout day at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Freshman Nia Carter also chipped in, going 2-for-3 for Iowa with two RBIs.
Iowa rallied to score one in the seventh inning and walked it off on a single off the bat of freshman Nia Carter to pick up the 2-1 win over the Kangaroos in the second game.
Junior Lauren Shaw (6-1) got the win for Iowa against UMKC. The left-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on seven hits, allowing one walk and striking out six.
Junior Ashley Hamilton led the way offensively for the Hawkeyes in game two, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with two doubles and an RBI. Hamilton doubled in the top of the seventh to put a runner in scoring position before Carter’s clinching hit. Carter put together a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.
HEAR FROM COACH GILLISPIE
“We had a great showing in the first game. (Allison) Doocy did great on the mound. Our offense was strong and getting quality at-bats. We had a lot of clutch hits that and it was a good way to start our double-header. Against UMKC, we didn’t have the offensive arsenal we wanted, but (Lauren) Shaw did a great job keeping their hitters off-balance, and our defense played great again. Ashley Hamilton and Nia Carter both had clutch hits to help us win.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1
The Hawkeyes put runs on the scoreboard first, beginning in the second inning. Iowa scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run single from Carter.
The Hawkeyes then held the Vikings scoreless before expanding their lead in the fourth inning. Iowa scored once on Rocco’s RBI single, which brought the Hawkeyes lead to 4-0.
Portland State narrowed Iowa’s lead to 4-2 in the fifth before the Hawkeyes stretched the advantage to 6-2 in the sixth inning. The Hawkeyes scored twice, with one run coming across on Rocco’s single.
Iowa kept the Vikings scoreless in the sixth. The Hawkeyes pushed two runs across in the seventh on a Bogar double that scored sophomore Kate Claypool and senior Havyn Monteer, extending the Iowa advantage to 8-2. Portland State put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Hawkeyes still coasted to the 8-3 win.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
» Bogar and Rocco collected three hits.
» Doocy struck out 12 Vikings hitters.
» The Hawkeyes power output was led by Bogar, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Every Iowa starter reached base safely in the win.
» Iowa’s highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed three runs across.
» Five Hawkeyes had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Hawkeyes out-hit the Vikings at a 13-9 clip.
» Iowa went 6-for-14 (.429) with runners in scoring position.
» Doocy limited Portland State to just 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position.
» Doocy faced 32 Portland State hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and three fly balls while striking out 12.
» Bogar led the Hawkeyes at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs.
GAME 2
The Hawkeyes were trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning when they first put runs on the board. Iowa got on the board thanks to Hamilton’s RBI double with two outs.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, Hamilton tallied her second double of the ballgame, putting a runner at second. Taylor Ryan came in to pinch run for Hamilton.
Nia Carter’s walk-off single to right scored Ryan to claim Iowa its second victory of the day.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
» Shaw struck out six Kangaroos hitters.
» The Hawkeyes power output was led by Hamilton, who compiled two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Shaw restrained UMKC to just 1-for-8 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
» Shaw faced 29 UMKC hitters in the game, allowing 13 ground balls and two fly balls while striking out six.
» Hamilton led the Hawkeyes at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI.
UP NEXT
Next up is day two of the Hawai’i Invitational on Feb. 22. Iowa starts the day against Portland State at 4 p.m. (CT) and ends the day facing host Hawai’i at 8 p.m. (CT).
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
Stay up-to-date on all the happenings with the Iowa softball program on social media via Twitter (@Iowasoftball), Instagram/iowasoftball, and Facebook/iowahawkeyessoftball.
