Piscataway, New Jersey – The University of Iowa softball team defeated Rutgers on Saturday in both sides of a doubleheader. The Hawkeyes won the first game, 9-1, in five innings. Iowa took the second game, 6-2.
Senior pitcher Allison Doocy got the win in the first game to move to 7-4 on the season. Senior Lauren Shaw got the win in the second game improving to 7-3 in the circle.
Doocy recorded her 700th career strikeout in the first game, she is only the sixth Hawkeye to reach that milestone.
“I have had the chance to play with some of the best athletes, it has been awesome,” said Doocy. “I love the support behind me, some people have made some great plays to keep the momentum. It was an awesome day, and overall, just exciting.”
Sophomore Kalena Burns was 4-for-6 on the day with six RBIs. She hit two home runs and had a third bounce off the top of the fence and come back into play for an RBI single.
“Definitely was seeing the ball pretty big,” said Burns. “The excitement in the dugout really got me going. Seeing the defense work hard, I knew I had come up in those big situations and get it done.”
Freshman Brylee Klosterman was 4-for-4 in the second game and was 4-for-6 on the day with two RBIs.
“I am just keeping it simple, doing what I can for the team,” said Klosterman. “Not trying to overthink anything, just trying to get on and bring my teammates around.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
The Hawkeyes got off to a hot start scoring three runs in the first. Klosterman drew a walk, Riley Sheehy drew a walk. Burns homered to center to score them.
Iowa added three runs in the third. Sheehy doubled to left. Loecker drew a walk and Sheehy moved to third on a wild pitch. Burns brought Sheehy home with a sacrifice fly. Marissa Peek reached on a fielder’s choice, Grace Banes drew a walk, and Nia Carter hit a double to bring them both home.
The Hawkeyes scored another three runs in the fourth. Aralee Bogar singled to the pitcher and then stole second and third to put herself in scoring position. Sheehy drew a walk and stole second base. Denali Loecker hit a home run to plate the runs. Rutgers scored their lone run in the fifth on a solo home run.
Game 2
The Hawkeyes scored a run in the first after Sheehy reached on a fielders choice. She stole second and Burns singled to left field to score her. Iowa added two runs in the second. Banes drew a walk and Sammy Diaz reached on an infield single. Both runners moved over on a wild pitch, and Bogar hit a sacrifice fly to score Banes and Klosterman singled to left field to score Diaz.
Rutgers scored two runs in the third after a trio of singles and an error. The Hawkeyes scored two of their own in the fourth. Diaz drew a walk, Bogar laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her over, Klosterman singled to left field scoring Diaz, and Sheehy singled scoring Klosterman. Iowa scored one more run in the seventh on a Burns home run to center.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE
“In both games, and even yesterday you could see the pitching was on. They were focusing on what they needed to do and did a great job on the mound. Both Doocy and Shaw locked it down, the defense had their back. The biggest highlight of the day was seeing the offense. Seeing the girls start to hit the ball.”
“Klosterman being that lead off for us, she finds a way and that is what you need. Sheehy does a great job to move her over. Burns had huge outing today, bouncing off the wall that was crazy, she said she needed it to be 219 not 220. That last one was a line drive, that was a five iron over the fence. She hit quite a shot.”
“Doocy has put her name in the record books at Iowa, when you talk about Iowa now you will remember Doocy. It is neat to have her in the record book, but also to see what she has done for this program. She is finishing her masters in five years; she is just an incredible young woman. It is great to see her be a part of this program and helping it grow as a senior. She is an Iowa girl; she is making a good name for Iowa.
NOTABLES
- Allison Doocy recorded her 700th career strikeout in the first game; she is the sixth Hawkeye in program history to reach that milestone.
- Klosterman was 4-for-4 in the second game. Her four hits are both a team and career high
- The Hawkeyes have hit seven home runs on the weekend.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes go for the series sweep against Rutgers tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. (CT).
