LEESBURG, Fla. – The University of Iowa softball team (6-5) split two games of a doubleheader against Maryland (6-5) in Leesburg, Florida, on Saturday. The Hawkeyes took the first game in eight innings, 1-0. Maryland won the second game, 3-2.
Senior Pitcher Allison Doocy threw an eight-inning complete game shutout in Game 1, striking out 10 batters on her way to her second victory of the season.
“We are having some very close games out there,” said Doocy. “We are continuing to fight. You can see that the energy is up in the dugout and on the field. I am excited about the attitudes that we are having throughout these long extra-inning games.
Senior Aralee Bogar and sophomore Nia Carter pulled off a successful double steal, with Bogar stealing home, to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
“We had talked that Nia might do a delayed steal to try and draw a throw,” said Bogar. “It ended up happening and I was ready for it. As soon as I saw the throw go past the pitcher I took off and it worked out.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
The lone hit in the game for the Hawkeyes came in the bottom of the fourth when Grace Banes singled. Doocy shut down the Maryland bats for eight innings and the offense finally broke through for Iowa in the eighth. With Bogar starting on second base Sammy Diaz laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her over. Maryland would choose to intentionally walk Carter, who would go on to steal second and force a throw that allowed Bogar to steal home and end the game.
Game 2
The Hawkeyes got the scoring started in the fourth inning. Riley Sheehy and Grace Banes singled and Denali Loecker executed a sacrifice bunt to move them over. Lindy Milkowski was able to lay down a successful bunt to bring the run in and reach base. Kit Rocco hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate the second run for Iowa. Maryland brought home two runs to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. A Maryland homerun in the bottom of the sixth would be the difference maker.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Hawkeyes have won four of their five games this weekend and five of their last seven.
- The Hawkeyes have now scored 15 runs in the seventh inning or later.
- Milkowksi has caught five runners stealing this weekend and picked off another from behind the plate.
- The Hawkeye pitching staff has thrown a combined eight complete games, including two shutouts.
- The first game of the doubleheader was the Hawkeyes third straight game in extra innings, they won all three games.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE
“I thought Doocy did a great job on the mound, again keeping us in the game until we had the opportunity to get a runner on second base. Girls did good job with key bunts and hits to move them over and win that game.”
“The second game didn’t go as we wanted. I feel like we jumped out at them and did good defensively. Shaw held us in that game, was strong for five innings. We struggled doing the little things, had a couple baserunning mistakes that really do affect the game. Those situations hurt us. We have to bounce back and focus on what we can adjust. I think we will come back stronger tomorrow.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to the diamond Sunday against Maryland at 8 a.m. (CT).
