IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team defeated Drake, 16-4, on Sunday afternoon at Pearl Field in the final game of the Big Four Classic. Iowa was the designated away team in the game. Sophomore Devyn Greer got the start in the circle for the Hawkeyes.
Drake came out swinging and was able to plate three runs on one hit and three Iowa errors in the first. Iowa got their offense going in the third as sophomore Rylie Moss and senior Nia Carter recorded back-to-back singles. Moss came home for the first Iowa run of the game on a sac fly from junior Brylee Klosterman. The Bulldogs answered back in the bottom of the inning plating one more to extend their lead to, 4-1.
In the top of the fourth, the Hawkeyes were able to cut the deficit to one run. Junior Denali Loecker started off the inning with a single, followed up by an RBI double from sophomore Tristin Doester. The second Iowa run came home on a fielder’s choice off the bat of sophomore Emma Henderson.
The Iowa bats came to life in the top of the sixth inning. Three straight singles loaded the bases for the Hawkeyes and freshman Avery Jackson took a pitch off the leg to bring home the first run of the inning. E. Henderson and freshman Anna Streff recorded back-to-back RBI singles to give Iowa a 6-4 lead. Another run came home on a Bulldog error and senior Nia Carter brought home the fifth run of the inning on an infield single.
The Hawkeyes were able to extend their lead to 12-4 in the top of the seventh. Iowa scored four runs on RBI singles from Streff, Carter, and Klosterman. The Hawkeyes kept it going in the eighth, plating two more to make the score 14-4. With the bases loaded in the ninth, freshman Sterling Berndt hit an infield single that scored two.
Fifth year pitcher Breanna Vasquez came into the game in the second inning was lights out for six innings. She was able to hold Drake to one run on one hit with seven strikeouts. E. Henderson entered the circle in the eighth and closed out the final two innings unscathed.
The Hawkeyes finished the game with 16 runs on 23 hits and three errors.
Iowa returns to action on Friday Oct. 14 for game one of their annual Black and Gold Series at Bob Pearl Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT. Admission is free.
