MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Iowa softball team was defeated by No. 24 Minnesota, 3-0, on Friday night at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
Senior pitcher Sarah Lehman got the start in the circle and moved to 5-7 on the season.
Freshmen Sammy Diaz and Marissa Peek hit doubles for Iowa. Two more freshmen made standout defensive plays for the Hawkeyes. Brylee Klosterman made a catch at the wall to rob a home run in the first inning, and Amber DeSena made a diving catch at second to end the fifth inning.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a pitching duel for most of the contest. The Hawkeyes had lead off doubles in the third and fourth but were unable to get anything across. Minnesota was able to crack through in the bottom of the sixth. They scored three runs on a single, a home run, a walk, and a double.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE
“We just have to eliminate that big inning. That is the biggest thing that we are facing, we kinda let up a little bit. We can’t let up in a game, you have to stay on these teams. I thought Sarah did a fantastic job of keeping them off balance and getting her changeup in there to throw them off their timing. Third time through the lineup has been the toughest part for us, making sure you give them different looks as a pitcher.
“On offense I thought the team did a good job of being disciplined at the plate. We had two hits, but even with those two hits we were hitting solid balls. We had two leadoff doubles that we could have executed a bunt on and gotten to third. We had an opportunity in both those cases to score and didn’t. Just comes down to execution on offense on the bunt situation but also on being able to get that clutch hit again. Overall, it felt like they battled against a very tough Minnesota team, I thought we did a good job going head-to-head with them.”
NOTABLES
- The Hawkeyes moved to 15-14 on the season.
- Sammy Diaz hit her first career double for the Hawkeyes.
- Sarah Lehman made her team leading 11th start of the season.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes continue the series against Minnesota with a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon.
