TAMPA, Florida — The University of Iowa softball team split action on Saturday at the South Florida Showdown. The Hawkeyes won a lengthy game one against USF, 12-4 (6 innings), before falling to No. 9 Texas (5-1) in game two.
Senior Breanna Vasquez started game one against USF. She threw her sixth complete game of the season, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out three batters. The Hawkeyes had plenty of offense against the Bulls as five different hitters had multiple hits. They were powered by the longball from junior Brylee Klosterman and sophomore Tristin Doster in the fourth inning.
Freshman Jalen Adams got her second start against a top-10 team this season in game two. Five Hawkeyes had hits, led by freshman Anna Streff, who went 2-for-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
The Hawkeyes recorded a single in the first two innings, but both runners were left stranded. USF was able to load the bases with one out in the second inning. They scored the first run on an RBI single and followed that up with a bases-clearing double that gave the Bulls an early 4-0 advantage.
Streff started the third inning with a walk and got to third on a single to right from senior Nia Carter. Streff crossed home plate on an RBI single from sophomore Tatianna Roman to give Iowa its first run. Sophomore Emma Henderson followed that up with an RBI single of her own to get the Hawkeyes within two.
In the top of the fourth with two outs, the rain started to come down, which resulted in a one hour and 24-minute rain delay.
Roman and freshman Tory Bennett started the fifth inning with back-to-back singles. Both runs came around to score on a triple from junior Grace Banes as Iowa tied the game at four. Klosterman put a charge into one and sent it over the fence in right center to give the Hawkeyes a 6-4 lead.
Iowa was able to add on an insurance run on an RBI double from Bennett to make it 7-4 in the sixth inning. Klosterman drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the Hawkeye lead to four. Doster put the exclamation point on the inning with a two-out grand slam to make it 12-4.
Vasquez shut the door in the bottom of the sixth inning the secure the run-rule win. Iowa finished the contest with 12 runs on 13 hits and one error.
Game 2
Iowa recorded a single in the first three innings of the game but was unable to do anything to bring them around. Texas was able to open the scoring in the top of the fourth on a two-RBI single with two outs.
In the home half of the fourth, Iowa led off with back-to-back singles from Henderson and Banes. They got to second and third with one out in the inning. Doster came through again for Iowa, with a sac fly to get the Hawkeyes within one, 2-1.
In the fifth, the Longhorns made a pitching change as Iowa got runners on first and second with two outs. The new arm came in and was able to strand the Hawkeyes. Texas extended its lead to 4-1 in the sixth on a two-run home run and added another in the seventh to extend its lead to four.
Iowa finished the game with one run on six hits and no errors.
HEAR FROM THE STUDENT-ATHLETES
“I feel like I am seeing the ball well right now and I am just focusing on what I can do. On mt at-bat in the first game, I was waiting for a pitch that I could drive and score the run from third. After the rain delay, we came out ready to go and was able to gain the momentum. We never gave up today, we were able to compete every pitch and it was exciting to be a part of” – Klosterman
“I am working on being patient in my at-bats, finding my pitch, and seeing the ball. After the rain delay, we were working on staying focused and keeping the energy high.” -Doster
NOTABLES
- Klosterman’s home run was her first of the season.
- Doster’s first home run of last season and this season were both grand slams.
- Game one was Iowa’s fifth run-rule win of the season.
- Iowa finished its spring break trip with a record of 7-3.
UP NEXT
Iowa (18-11) travels to State College, Pennsylvania, to start Big Ten competition next weekend. The Hawkeyes will face Penn State in a three-game series beginning Friday at 4 p.m. (CT). All games will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).