Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Monthly — January | South Alabama | FAU | Boxscore
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — The University of Iowa softball team (14-4) bounced back from a loss to South Alabama, 3-2, in the morning to defeat Florida Atlantic, 6-5, in the afternoon on Saturday at the ROC Complex.
Freshmen led the way at the plate over the day’s two games. Nia Carter (4-for-6) and Kalena Burns (3-for-7) combined for five of Iowa’s seven RBIs on the day, including Burns’ go-ahead single in the fifth against FAU.
Senior DoniRae Mayhew picked up her first win of the season against FAU in a relief effort. She pitched two innings, striking out two.
HEAR FROM ASSISTANT COACH PRATER
“Offensively we were swinging it all weekend. We had opportunities in both games we lost where we left bases loaded a couple times, so we were one hit away in both games to put our opponents away. Coming into the last game, we knew that we could we needed to capitalize on those opportunities. Against FAU we were able to get that timely hit and primetime hitting is what we’ve talked – stepping up in those opportunities and being able to score multiple runs without hitting homeruns.”
HEAR FROM NIA CARTER ON FAST START AGAINST FAU
“Going up to the plate after (Aralee) Bogar’s game-opening double was helpful for the leftys. We knew that FAU’s pitcher was going to throw inside the leftys and it gave the rest of us more confidence. Being the last lefty of three in a row to start the lineup also helps Kalena behind me since it’s a different look for the pitchers.”
HEAR FROM KALENA BURNS ON BATTING BEHIND THREE LEFT-HANDED BATTERS
“Having three leftys and then a righty really challenges the pitcher. Most of our lineup is left-handed batters, so when FAU did see right -handed batters, it does throw people off. Being the first righty is different because you get a different look, but our coaches prepare us well for our opponents.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
South Alabama opened fast, scoring a run in the first inning after a walk and a long fly ball to right that got caught in the wind.
Senior Allison Doocy settled in after the first inning. She finished with 13 strikeouts.
Iowa got on the board in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring a run apiece. With the bases loaded, sophomore Riley Sheehy took a ball off the helmet to bring home senior Alex Rath, who was pinch running for sophomore Kit Rocco.
In the sixth, junior Aralee Bogar reached on a throwing error and made her way to third base. She scored on a single from Carter.
South Alabama ended the game in the bottom of the seventh on a single to left field to score a runner from third base.
Game 2
The Hawkeyes got their frustrations out against FAU. Iowa began the game with a leadoff double from Bogar. Carter followed with her first triple of the season to score Bogar.
Burns got in on the action with Iowa’s third straight hit to score Carter.
In the second, Iowa’s flurry of attacks continued with an RBI single from senior Havyn Monteer. Junior Mia Ruther added an RBI single of her own and took second on the throw.
Carter grabbed her second RBI of the day on a sacrifice bunt to score Bogar.
Iowa led 5-0 after two innings.
FAU battled back to tie the score with five runs in the fourth inning. Senior DoniRae Mayhew entered to relieve starting pitcher junior Lauren Shaw.
The tie didn’t last long as Iowa got the lead back in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an RBI single from Burns.
Leading 6-5, Iowa brought in Doocy save the game in the seventh. The Owls got a runner on third, but Doocy struck out FAU’s final two batters to secure the victory.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
» Iowa’s highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed three runs across.
» Iowa grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn’t surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Hawkeyes out-hit the Owls at a 9-7 clip.
» Iowa went 6-for-13 (.462) with runners in scoring position.
» Iowa pitchers limited Florida Atlantic to just 2-for-11 (.182) with runners in scoring position.
» Iowa pitchers faced 33 Florida Atlantic hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and six fly balls while striking out six.
» Carter led the Hawkeyes at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBIs.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to the Spring Games next weekend in Madeira Beach, Florida, to face Loyola Chicago, South Dakota State, Central Michigan, and Ohio. The games will be streamed live on FloSoftball.
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.
