Hawkeyes Walk-Off No. 20 Northwestern

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team split its Sunday doubleheader against No. 20 Northwestern at Bob Pearl Field. The Hawkeyes fell in game one (5-0) before taking game two in walk-off fashion (6-5). 

Freshman Jalen Adams got the start for Iowa in game one of the afternoon. She went 6 1/3 innings, allowing five runs, all unearned, on five hits and striking out two.              

Senior Breanna Vasquez got her second start of the series in game two. She went five innings, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out three. Sophomore Tristin Doster was the hero, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, including the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh.  

HOW IT HAPPENED   

Game 1   

Adams went through the first two innings, allowing just one runner and striking out two. Junior Grace Banes led off the second inning with a double down the right field line. She was left stranded as the Hawkeyes were unable to cash in. Northwestern took advantage of two Hawkeye errors in the top of the third to take the 1-0 lead. 

The Wildcats threatened in the top of the fifth inning, getting runners on second and third with one out. They attempted a squeeze, but Doster was able to throw out the runner at home for the second out. In the home half of the inning, the Hawkeyes loaded the bases, but the Wildcat defense held strong to get out of the inning with their one run lead intact. 

In the seventh, Northwestern took advantage of Iowa miscues once again, scoring four runs to take the 5-0 lead.  

Game 2    

The Hawkeyes grabbed the early lead in game two when Banes stayed hot, roping an RBI double down the left field line to give Iowa a 2-0 lead.  

Junior Brylee Klosterman extended the Hawkeye lead in the second as she sent the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence to make it 3-0. Later in the inning, Iowa put runners on first and third with two outs, but Northwestern got out of the jam with no further damage. 

Northwestern got things going offensively in the fourth inning, plating its first run of the game on an RBI double and then got to within one, 3-2, on a solo home run.  

The Wildcats tied the game at three with a one-out home run in the top of the fifth. In the home half of the inning, Iowa got its first two runners on base via a walk and double and both runs scored on an RBI single from Doster through the right side, giving Iowa a 5-3 lead.  

Adams entered the game in relief to start the sixth inning and she quickly retired the first two Wildcat hitters in the inning. Northwestern then strung together three straight hits with two outs to tie the game at five.  

In the bottom of the seventh, junior Denali Loecker started the rally, reaching and moving to second base on an error by the Wildcat leftfielder. The next two Hawkeye batters reached base as they loaded them with one out and Doster came through with a walk-off single to knock off No. 20 Northwestern, 6-5. 

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE  

“That was a hard-fought win in game two. Northwestern is still one of the toughest teams in the conference, and it was good to see that we were able to compete with them all weekend long. We are ready to take this momentum into next week as we hit the road again.” 

HEAR FROM TRISTIN DOSTER  

“In my last at-bat, I was just looking for a pitch I could drive to score a run. We fought hard all weekend, so it feels good to end on a high note.” 

NOTABLES   

• Game two was Iowa’s second win over a top-25 team this season. 
• Iowa has surpassed its Big Ten win total from the 2022 season.
• Doster had her fourth multi-RBI game of the season in game two. 

UP NEXT   

Iowa (22-15, 4-4) returns to action on Tuesday, traveling to Des Moines, Iowa, to face Drake. First pitch at Buel Field is scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) and broadcast on Hawkeye Radio Network.