Hawkeyes Fall In Extras

MINNEAPOLIS — The University of Iowa softball team fell to Minnesota in extra innings in the series finale (2-1, 9 innings) on Sunday afternoon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.

Freshman Jalen Adams got the start for the second game in a row. Sophomore Tatianna Roman went 3-for-4 at the plate and junior Brylee Klosterman came through with the Hawkeyes’ only RBI in the seventh inning.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

Both teams recorded a hit in the first inning but neither runner was able to get past first base. The Hawkeye defense was locked in early as freshman Tory Bennett and junior Sammy Diaz each had great defensive plays to end the first two innings. In the bottom of the third, Minnesota got a two-out double, but Adams was able to leave her stranded.

Diaz tried to start a two-out rally in the fourth as she tripled down the right field line, but she was left there as the inning came to an end. The Gophers got their first two hitters on base to start the home half of the fourth and loaded the bases with two outs. Adams induced a ground out to end the frame as the game remained scoreless headed to the fifth.

Junior Grace Banes had a one-out infield single to get things going in the seventh. She stole second and came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Klosterman as Iowa took the 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Minnesota loaded the bases with no outs as the Hawkeyes made a pitching change. Senior Breanna Vasquez entered the circle, and the Gophers were able to tie the game on a sac fly. Vasquez was able to limit the damage and send the game into extra innings tied at one.

Roman picked up her third hit of the day with two outs in the eighth. She was able to get herself into scoring position with a stolen base, but she was left stranded. Junior Denali Loecker entered the circle with one out in the ninth inning. The Gophers got back-to-back runners on, and the winning run scored on a sac fly to centerfield. 

NOTABLES  

• Roman had her 14th multi-hit game of the season.
• This was Iowa’s seventh extra-inning game of the season.

UP NEXT  

Iowa (28-20, 8-9) returns to action on Wednesday as they host in-state foe Iowa State for the final matchup of the 2023 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. First pitch at Pearl Field is scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT). The game will be broadcast on BTN and on Hawkeye Radio Network.