LEESBURG, Fla. — The University of Iowa softball team split action on Friday afternoon at day one of The Spring Games. The Hawkeyes fell game one against Southern Illinois, 4-1, before defeating Liberty, 4-2, in the night cap.
Against Liberty, eight Hawkeyes recorded a hit with three Hawkeyes having a multi-hit game. Senior Grace Banes and freshmen Jena Young each went 2-for-3 with one run scored. Sophomore Jalen Adams picked up her second win of the season throwing a complete game against the Flames. She allowed two runs on two hits and struck out two Liberty hitters.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
The Hawkeyes were able to get two runners on in the first, but both were left stranded as SIU got out of the inning.
The Salukis took advantage of three Hawkeyes errors in the top of the second to take an early, 3-0, lead. Starting pitcher Devyn Greer was able to get out of the inning without further damage after a strikeout.
The Hawkeyes were able to get their first run on the board in the home half of the fourth with an RBI double to the wall off the bat of freshman Devin Bowman. Senior Sammy Diaz followed suit with a single to right center and moved into scoring position on thew throw. Iowa was unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position as the fourth inning ended.
SIU loaded the bases in the top of the sixth as Iowa made a call to the bullpen. Junior Haley Downe entered in relief and got the final two outs and did not give up a run. The Salukis added an insurance run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to extend their lead, 4-1. Iowa was retired in order to close out the game.
The Hawkeyes finished the game with one run on four hits with four errors.
Game 2
Banes started game two with a walk and came around to score on an RBI triple from freshman Soo-Jin Berry. Senior Brylee Klosterman brought home Berry with an RBI single to make it 2-0. Liberty answered back in the bottom of the first getting one run on an RBI single to cut their deficit to one.
Each teams scattered hits in innings two through four but neither team was able to cash in. Iowa added two more runs in the top of the fifth with RBI singles from freshman Jena Young and senior Sammy Diaz. The Flames added a run in the bottom of the fifth but Adams shut the door as she left two runners stranded.
Adams closed out the game facing seven batters in the final two innings. Iowa finished the game with four runs on eleven hits with two errors.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE
“We had a great bounce back win against a strong Liberty team. We made some uncharacteristic mistakes in game one, but I am proud of the way our bats responded in game two. Whenever Jalen has the ball, we have a good opportunity to win.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes take on Kansas and Coastal Carolina tomorrow at 8 and 10:30 a.m. (CT). Both games will be streamed live on FloSoftball (subscription required) and be broadcasted on the Hawkeye Radio Network.