NORMAL, Illinois – The University of Iowa softball team split a pair of games on Sunday afternoon at Marian Kneer Stadium on the campus of Illinois State. The Hawkeyes defeated Illinois-Springfield in the first game of the afternoon, 9-3. They then went on to fall to Illinois State, 4-1.
Game 1 – vs. Illinois-Springfield
The Hawkeyes jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double from junior Grace Banes. Illinois-Springfield answered back tying it in the bottom of the inning. Iowa was able to retake the lead in the second with RBIs from freshman Anna Streff and senior Nia Carter. The Hawkeyes were able to extend their lead to 4-1 on an RBI double off the bat of junior Brylee Klosterman in the third inning. The Prairie Stars were able to plate one run in the bottom of the third to make it 4-2.
In the fourth, Iowa was able to put up another crooked number with three runners scoring. Sophomore Anna Henderson hit a two-run homerun in the sixth to make it 9-2. The Prairie Stars were able to get one run across in the sixth to cut the Iowa lead, to six.
Fifth-year pitcher Breanna Vasquez entered the circle in the seventh and struck out the side to close out the game. Four Iowa arms were used in the game. As a staff they gave up three runs on four hits and four walks while recording seven strikeouts.
The Hawkeyes finished the game with nine runs on 15 hits and two errors.
Game 2 – vs. Illinois State
Junior Denali Loecker got things started for the Hawkeyes with an RBI double in the first inning. Iowa was able to hold Illinois scoreless until the third inning when the Redbirds plated one to tie the game. Three solo homeruns for Illinois state in the fifth and sixth innings gave them the, 4-1, lead.
Iowa pitched by committee again with four different arms. In the game the staff gave up three earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four Redbird hitters.
The Hawkeyes finished the game with one run on five hits and one error. The five hits all came from different Iowa hitters.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to Bob Pearl Field on Friday October 21 for game two of the Black and Gold Series. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT. Admission is free.
