WEST LAYFAETTE, Indiana – The University of Iowa softball team split a doubleheader with Purdue on Saturday afternoon at Bittinger Stadium. The Hawkeyes won the first game, 4-2. In the second game, the Hawkeyes fell in 12 innings, 5-4.
Senior pitcher Allison Doocy pitched a complete game for the win in game one. She struck out a season high 13 batters to move to 3-3 on the season.
“It was awesome,” said Doocy. “Before the game you could tell everyone was ready to go, excited for today’s game coming off a big win yesterday. I was just feeding off their energy. The defense was solid today, they were ready and talking. Whenever the ball was hit, they were making the plays we needed.”
Freshman Lindy Milkowski went 2-for-2 in the first game and drew a walk. Milkowski added another walk in the second game and has reached base safely in eight straight games.
“I feel like I see the ball really well,” said Milkowski. “I like to go deep into counts. I like to keep the pitchers on their toes. I want them to work just as hard as I am working in the box. I go up with a lot of confidence. I go up with the mindset that I am going to get a hit, get a walk, or make a way. Find a way, make a way is my motto.”
Freshman Marissa Peek hit her first career home run in game two to spark a late Hawkeye rally that would force extra innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
The Hawkeyes broke open the scoring in the third inning. Milkowski singled and Kalena Burns singled to move her over to second. Denali Loecker hit an RBI single that scored Milkowski. Ashley Hamilton would single to load the bases, and Brylee Klosterman singled to score Burns. Nia Carter plated Hamilton for the Hawkeyes’ third run of the inning.
Iowa added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Carter drew a walk and was moved over by a Grace Banes single. Milkowski drew a walk to load the bases. Burns hit a sacrifice fly to score Carter, and Banes would score on a throwing error. Purdue answered back with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Hawkeye lead would prove to be insurmountable.
Game 2
Purdue got on the board first with one run in the bottom of the first inning after a single, a sacrifice bunt, and another single. The Boilermakers would add another run in the fifth after a pair of singles.
Peek hit a homerun for the Hawkeyes in the top of the seventh to narrow the lead to just one. Avery Guy reached on fielder’s choice, Loecker hit a pinch-hit single, and Carter singled down the third base line bringing home Guy the tying run. The Hawkeyes would score in the 11th inning after Bogar advanced to third on a Guy sacrifice bunt and was brought home by a Klosterman sacrifice fly. Purdue answered back in the bottom half with an RBI double. Iowa scored in the top of the 12th after a Banes double scored Carter from second. Purdue would tally two runs in the bottom of the 12th to win the game.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Hawkeyes have won seven of their last nine games.
- This was the Hawkeyes’ fifth extra inning game of the season; they are now 4-1 in those games.
- Freshman Lindy Milkowski extended her on-base streak to eight games.
- Freshman Marissa Peek hit her first career home run in the second game.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE
“We had two hard fought games today in the doubleheader. We had good performances by our senior pitching staff of Doocy, Shaw and Lehman. We are starting to see better approaches at the plate. Marissa Peek had her first career home run which came in a big spot to help keep us in that game. We had some great defensive plays; had three big double plays by Avery, Aralee, and Nia in the extra innings. We just need to keep working to string our hits together as we are leaving too many runners in base. We are looking forward to our final game vs. Purdue tomorrow.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes finish the series against Purdue with a game Sunday at noon (CT).
