STOCKTON, Calif. – The University of Iowa softball team swept a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon against Pacific, 10-1 (5 innings), and Sacramento State, 6-1, at Bill Simoni Field.
Freshman Jaylee Ojo (2-1) got the start against Pacific and was magnificent for the second straight day. The Sacramento, Calif. native went 4.0 innings allowing no runs on one hit and struck out seven Tiger hitters. Sophomore Jalen Adams (6-5) picked up the win in game two throwing her ninth complete game of the season. She allowed just one run on seven hits and struck out two.
Freshman Soo-Jin Berry had herself a day at the plate going 4-for-6 with three RBIs and five runs scored. Senior Sammy Diaz finished the day with four RBIs in the doubleheader.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Iowa came out strong as they got on the board in the top of the first. With two outs in the inning senior Grace Banes drove an RBI single up the middle to score Berry to give the Hawkeyes the, 1-0, lead. Iowa was able to keep it going on the second as freshman Jena Young and sophomore Echo Mattiello pulled off the double steal to extend the lead to two. Berry tacked on another run on an RBI single to make it 3-0.
Ojo was dominant as she did not allow a hit and struck out six Tiger hitters the first time through the lineup. The Hawkeyes had a big fourth inning started by young who sent a ball over the fence for her second home run in as many days to give Iowa a, 4-0, lead. The Hawkeyes added three more on RBI doubles from Banes and sophomore Avery Jackson to extend the lead, 7-0, through four innings.
The Hawkeye bats stayed hot as Diaz brought home junior Rylie Moss in the fifth. Senior Brylee Klosterman gave Iowa a 10-run lead with a two-RBI single. Freshman Andrea Jaskowiak took over in the circle in the bottom of the fifth. The Tigers were able to push one run across, but Jaskowiak limited the damage as she closed out the run-rule victory.
Iowa finished the game with 10 runs on 10 hits and had one error.
Game 2
Diaz reached on an error to start the second inning. She moved into scoring position after a steal and a sacrifice bunt. Diaz came around to score on a productive ground out from sophomore Tory Bennett to give Iowa the lead, 1-0.
Sac State got on the board in the top of the third on an RBI double to even the score at one. Adams was able to limit the damage as she stranded two runners to end the inning. Iowa threatened in the home half of the third, getting two runners into scoring position but they were unable to cash in.
Mattiello and Moss both reached on walks in the bottom of the fifth and the Hawkeyes retook the lead on a Hornets throwing error, 3-1. Diaz added an insurance run on an RBI double to make it, 4-1, Iowa. Adams retied the Hornets in order in the top of the sixth.
Diaz stayed hot with her second two-RBI double of the day in the home half of the sixth to make it 6-1. The Hornets scattered a couple of hits in the seventh but Adams locked in and secured the win for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa finished the game with six runs on six hits and had one error.
HEAR FROM HEARD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE
“It is great for us to close out this long trip with four solid wins. We had a lot of different people step up over the past four games and this is what we needed to see heading into conference next weekend. Once again Jaylee and Jalen gave us all they had in the circle and put us in a great position to win. Our offense came through today and capitalized when we had runners on. I am excited to see how we carry this momentum into our home opener on Friday.”
NOTABLES
- Iowa went 4-0 at Pacific and finished 6-5 on their spring break trip.
- Ojo has allowed no runs and just two hits in her last 11.0 innings of work.
- Young hit a home run in each game against Pacific this weekend.
- Diaz has reached base safely in each of the past 18 games.
- This was Iowa’s fifth doubleheader sweep of the season.
UP NEXT
Iowa (12-10) returns to action on Friday as they open Big Ten play against Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes host the Badgers in their home opener at Bob Pearl Field for a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 5 pm CT and will be streamed on B1G+ ($).