UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The University of Iowa softball team fell to Penn State in extra innings (3-2) in its Big Ten opener Friday evening at Beard Field at the Nittany Lion Softball Stadium.
Freshman Jalen Adams got the ball in the conference opener and threw a complete game. She allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out two in eight innings of work. Senior Nia Carter stayed hot at the plate; she went 3-for-3 with a walk and scored both Hawkeye runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game started out as a pitchers dual. Both teams were able to get a runner on in each of the first three innings, but neither was able to cash in.
The Iowa bats came to life in the top of the fourth inning. Carter led things off with a double to right and advanced to third on a single from sophomore Tatianna Roman. Carter crossed home on an RBI from freshman Tory Bennett to give the Hawkeyes the 1-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions got back-to-back singles in the fifth as they looked to get a two-out rally going. Adams got the Penn State two-hitter to go first-pitch swinging and flew out to centerfield to end the frame. The Hawkeyes got runners on first and second with one out in the sixth, but both were left stranded.
Penn State got things going in the sixth with a one-out triple to rightfield. They were able to tie the game on a sac fly from the next hitter. Iowa went down quietly in the top of the seventh. The Nittany Lions started the home half of the seventh with a single, but the Hawkeyes got the final out of the inning at home to send the game into extras.
Carter and Roman started the eighth inning with back-to-back singles. The Hawkeyes took the lead, 2-1, on a sac fly from junior Denali Loecker. The Nittany Lions fought back and tied the game at two on a two-out double to send the game to the ninth. Penn State hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win.
NOTABLES
- Loecker now has 30 RBIs on the season, which has surpassed her previous two season totals.
- Carter now has seven three-hit games this season.
UP NEXT
Iowa (18-12, 0-1) concludes its series at Penn State with a Sunday doubleheader. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 10 a.m. (CT). Both games with be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required) and broadcast live on Hawkeye Sports Radio and KXIC locally in Iowa City.