Hawkeyes' Offense Explodes for Day 2 Sweep

COMMERCE, Texas -- The University of Iowa softball team went, 2-0, on day two of the Lion Invitational at John Cain Family Softball Field on Saturday afternoon. Iowa defeated Abilene Christian (ACU), 17-4 (5 innings), and East Texas A&M (ETAMU), 10-1 (5 innings).

Freshman Talia Tretton (2-0) got the start against the Wildcats throwing five innings allowing four runs on nine hits and fanned six. Sophomore Jena Young went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Three Hawkeyes recorded home runs with senior Hannah Lindsay blasting two and tallied six RBIs. Sophomore Soo-Jin Berry blasted a three-run home run and sophomore Devin Simon registered her first career home run -- a grand slam. 

Junior Jalen Adams (3-1) picked up her fourth start of the season and threw her third complete game. Adams struck out four batters and only allowed one run on eight hits. Berry and Lindsay tallied two hits a piece. Berry hit her second home run of the day. Lindsay tallied three RBIs and Tretton recorded two RBIs on one hit.

Lindsay finished the day going 6-for-8 with nine RBIs and 3 runs scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1
After a lightning delay in the game prior, Tretton got the start in the circle and threw the first pitch at 1:22 pm. The Wildcats got on the board quickly, taking advantage of an Iowa error, 1-0.

In the home half of the first, Young got things started with a with a single up the middle and Berry followed that up with a walk. Lindsay came to the plate with one out and hit a home run to left field, her second of the weekend, giving Iowa the lead, 3-1. Redshirt junior Desiree Rivera kept things going with a double to right center. Simon singled up the middle to bring Rivera home extending the lead to three runs. Iowa ended the first inning with four runs on five hits.

The Iowa bats stayed hot in the second as Berry and junior Tory Bennett reached base. Lindsay came to the plate next, yet again sending a home run ball out of left field, her second of the game, third of the weekend, bringing in both runners pushing the Iowa lead, 7-1. The Hawkeyes continued their offensive streak as they loaded the bases with two outs. Young through with a single through the right side scoring two. Berry followed that blasting a home run to left field, her second of the weekend, furthering the lead, 12-1. Iowa ended the inning with eight runs on just three hits. 

ACU showed some fight in the third plating three runs on four hits to cut the Hawkeye lead to eight. Iowa answered back in the bottom of the inning loading the bases on free passes with two outs. 

Sophomore Devin Simon launched her first career home run to centerfield plating four runs.

The Wildcats were held scoreless in the top of the fourth by Tretton. Iowa plated one more run in the fourth as Tretton doubled to bring home Bennett pushing the lead, 17-4. Tretton closed out the run-rule win for the Hawkeyes in the top of the fifth. 

Iowa finished the game with 17 runs on 12 hits and one error. ACU finished the game with four runs and nine hits.

Game 2
Iowa came out of the gates swinging to start game two of the day plating two runs in the first. Three of the first four Hawkeye hitters reached to start the inning and Tretton cashed in with an RBI single scoring Bennett and Lindsay. 

Adams got the start in the circle for Iowa and worked around a leadoff single in the home half of the first. Both teams were able to get runners on in the second and third innings, but neither team capitalized.

In the fourth, Berry launched a two-run home run extending the Iowa lead, 4-0. Bennett followed that up with a single and came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of Lindsay. 

Iowa pushed the Lions in the fifth into run-rule territory plating five more runs. Ramos got things started with an RBI double scoring senior Tatianna Roman. Iowa got runners on first and third as Young hit an RBI single through the right side furthering the lead to seven. Berry registered her third hit of the game as Simon came home on a Lion error. After a walk to Bennett, Lindsay singled to center field picking up her eighth and ninth RBIs of the day and pushed the score to 10-0. 

In the bottom of the fifth the Lions got on the board with a solo home run but Adams shut the door on ETAMU to secure Iowa's third run-rule victory of the weekend. 

Iowa finished the game with 10 runs on 11 hits while the Lions had one run on eight hits and three errors.

HEAR FROM INTERIM HEAD COACH BRIAN LEVIN
"Really proud of the at bats we had today. We showed a lot of discipline at the plate as a team. The pitchers did a great job of pounding the zone. We came here to play five competitive games and continue to grow as a team. We still have business to take care of tomorrow.

NOTABLES

• Iowa has matched its 2024 home run total through the first nine games of the 2025 season. 
• Lindsay's multi-home run game was the first one for Iowa since Grace Banes at Nebraska in 2024.
• Lindsay's six RBIs in game one was the first time since 2023 that a Hawkeye hitter has registered 5+ RBIs in a single game
• Iowa's four run-rule victories is the most in a season since 2013 (4).
• Today is the first time since March 20, 2011, that Iowa has had two run-rule victories in a day.

UP NEXT
Iowa (6-3) returns to action tomorrow for the final day of the Lion Invitational. Iowa will face SIUE at 10 a.m. (CT).