Hawkeyes Fall To Rutgers

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa softball team fell to Rutgers, 5-3, on Friday afternoon at Bob Pearl Field.   

Junior Denali Loecker did it all for the Hawkeyes. She entered the circle in relief and threw 4.2 innings allowing two runs on five hits and had one strikeout. At the plate she went 1-for-3 with a home run and had all three RBIs. Senior Nia Carter had her 12th three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-3 with one run scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED     

The Hawkeyes got runners on in the first inning with back-to-back singles from sophomore Tatianna Roman and Carter. They loaded the bases with two outs but were unable to cash in.

The Scarlet Knights scored the game’s first run in the second inning on a sac fly. Rutgers added another run in the third as a lead-off double came around to score. Iowa made a pitching change and brought in Loecker in relief of senior Breanna Vasquez. The Scarlet Knights extended their lead to four on a two-RBI triple.

The Hawkeyes had their first three hitters of the inning reach base, but errors on the base path left them with runners on the corners with one out. Loecker got Iowa on the board with a sac fly to score Roman from third to make it 4-1. Rutgers added another run in the top of the fourth to extend its lead back to four.

Carter led off the home half of the sixth with her third hit of the contest. Loecker followed that up with a two-run home run to center field to make it 5-3. The Scarlet Knights got two one-out baserunners to start the seventh inning, but Loecker left them stranded.

The Hawkeyes finished the game with three runs on eight hits.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE 

“We didn’t execute today, and we ran ourselves out of a couple of innings. Rutgers did an excellent job of executing all game and it showed. Denali provided a spark for us, and Nia continued to do what Nia does. We need to be able to have it one through nine in the lineup. We are going to show up tomorrow and keep fighting.”

HEAR FROM DENALI LOECKER 

“I want to do whatever I can to help the team, whether it’s hitting or pitching. I felt good at the plate. Even in my second at-bat I hit it hard, but it was right at someone. I have been in a slump recently, so it felt good to finally get one over the fence and try to bring the spark.”

NOTABLES     

• Loecker hit her eighth home run of the season, and first since March 12.
• Loecker is tied for seventh all-time for home runs at Iowa (22).
• Carter is now tied for fifth place for hits in a single season at Iowa (83).
• Carter ranks eighth all-time for hits at Iowa (219).

UP NEXT     

Iowa (28-22, 8-10) returns to action on Saturday for game two of the series against Rutgers (31-20, 8-10). First pitch at Pearl Field is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CT). The game will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required) and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.