LEESBURG, Fla. – Freshman Lindy Milkowski came up big for the University of Iowa softball team in the bottom of the eighth inning, hitting an RBI single to win the game against Maryland, 4-3, on Sunday. The Hawkeyes improved to 7-5 on the season and 5-1 on the weekend, including four wins in extra innings.
Milkowski went 2-2 on the day with two RBIs. She also drew a walk and was hit by a pitch. Senior Pitcher Sarah Lehman notched her fourth win of the season.
“I was super excited and ready to hit this pitcher,” said Milkowski “I had noticed throughout the game that she was coming inside on me. I was ready to hit that inside pitch when she threw it. I knew that was the first pitch coming, so I just kept my hands back and drove through it. I wasn’t looking to hit a home run, was just looking for a single and that is what happened.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawkeyes got things rolling in the bottom of the first inning after a Nia Carter single. Carter advanced to second on a throwing error and scored on a Grace Banes single to right field. Banes moved around the bags on a Denali Loecker single and a Milkowski hit by a pitch. She then scored on a passed ball. Maryland answered back with a triple in the top of the second that scored two runs. The Hawkeyes got back on the board in the third inning when Loecker reached second on an error and scored on a Milkowski single. Maryland scored in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the eighth inning with Banes on second base, Milkowski singled to left field to end the game.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Milkowski went 5-for-10 on the weekend with three RBIs. She caught six runners stealing and picked off another from behind home plate.
- Lehman pitched her fifth complete game of the season.
- The Hawkeyes are 4-0 in extra-inning games this season. Four of the six games played this week went to extra innings.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE
“Again, we are having our pitchers take care of business. Sarah did a good job on the mound and really fought for us that entire game. We knew our offense was there, we were making good contact with their pitcher. We knew that it was a matter of time for us to get the timing. She was throwing harder than we thought and we did a really good job making the adjustments we needed in the later innings.”
“Just a huge congratulations with Lindy having two clutch hits. One to get us to extra innings again, and then the big run to win the game.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes face Purdue in a four-game series March 26-28.
