IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team fell to Northern Iowa, 11-6, on Friday night at Pearl Field in a 9-inning exhibition. The Hawkeyes pitched by committee, with seven different pitchers making an appearance throughout the game.
Northern Iowa was able to strike early, plating one run in the top of the first inning.
In the third inning, Iowa was able to open the scoring as freshman, Avery Jackson, got the first hit of the night with a longball to tie the game at one. The Hawkeyes were able to plate two more runs in the inning off of a fielder’s choice and an RBI single from junior Brylee Klosterman.
The Panthers were able to tie it up, at three, in the top of the fifth inning on a two RBI double. In the top of the sixth, UNI retook the lead plating three to take a 6-3 lead.
Senior Nia Carter led off the home half of the sixth with a triple. She was able to come home on the RBI double off the bat of Klosterman. Junior Grace Banes followed that up with an RBI single to cut the Panther lead to one.
UNI tacked on three more on the top of the seventh to make the score 9-5. In the bottom of the inning, the Hawkeyes were able to get two runners on but were unable to bring them in. The Panthers were able to extend their lead to 11-5 in the top of the eighth scoring two.
Iowa was able to cut into the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Junior Denali Loecker got it going with a stand up double. She came home on another RBI single from Banes to make it 11-6.
The Hawkeyes finished the game with six runs on 10 hits and one error. The Iowa arms had nine strikeouts over nine innings.
The Hawkeyes return to action tomorrow afternoon at Bob Pearl Field as they play host to Iowa State. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT. Admission is free.
