IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa softball team split their Saturday afternoon double header against Michigan State. The Hawkeyes fell in game one, 8-2, before securing the series victory with a, 1-0, win in game two.
Freshman Soo-Jin Berry had two hits on the afternoon including a walk off single in game two. Sophomore Tory Bennett finished the afternoon going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Sophomore Jalen Adams (9-6) picked up her second shutout victory of the weekend in game two against the Spartans.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Freshman Jaylee Ojo (3-2) got the ball in game one. The Spartans struck first with an RBI single in the first inning. They tacked on another run on a passed ball to make it, 2-0, after one. Michigan State plated another run in the third on a solo home run to extend their lead to three.
The Hawkeyes were able to get their offense going in the bottom of the fourth. Bennett singled to centerfield scoring two to cut the Spartan lead to one, 3-2. Michigan State had a response as they scored in the remaining three innings to push their lead to five. The Iowa bats were kept quiet as they were retired in order in the final three frames.
Iowa finished the game with two runs on four hits with no errors.
Game 2
Three Hawkeyes were able to have traffic on the bases in the first two innings but were unable to push any runs across the plate.
Michigan State had runners on throughout the game but was unable to capitalize. Through 6.5 innings the Spartans stranded eight and the Hawkeyes stranded 11 runners.
After a quick shutout in the top of the seventh, Iowa did not waste any time in the bottom of the inning. With a full count, Freshman Jena Young lined triple to the right-center gap to start the inning. Berry lined the first pitch right back up the middle. The deflection of the pitcher allowed Young to score from third to secure the Hawkeye victory, 1-0.
Iowa finished the game with one run on seven hits and no errors. Michigan State was held to no runs on seven hits and had one error.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE
“I am proud of the way we bounced back in game two today. We had a lot of opportunities early on but we couldn’t push any runs across. They kept grinding though and it was a matter of time before we had the luck turn our way. I can’t say enough about how Jalen threw this weekend. Two shutout victories in Big Ten play is huge. Whenever she is in the circle, she gives us a chance to win.”
NOTABLES
- Ojo set a new career-high with 8 strikeouts in game one.
- Young extended her on-base streak to 13 games.
- Michigan State went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position in game two.
- This is the first time since 2017 that the Hawkeyes have won back-to-back Big Ten series (excluding 2021 COVID bubble).
UP NEXT
The University of Iowa softball team closes out their homestand as they host in-state rival Drake in a midweek doubleheader at Pearl Field on Tuesday April 2. First pitch for game one is set for 4 p.m. CT and will be streamed on B1G+.