Hawkeyes Drop Heartbreaker to No. 15 Missouri

CLEARWATER, Florida -- The University of Iowa softball team fell to No. 15 Missouri, 3-2, on the final day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic at Eddie C. Moore Complex on Sunday morning.

Freshman Talia Tretton got the start against Missouri, throwing 5.2 innings before junior Jalen Adams (2-1) entered in relief. Both pitchers recorded two strikeouts snd held the Tigers to five hits. Freshman Brianna Johnson had the Hawkeye's lone RBI, while junior Echo Mattiello and Johnson each scored a run.

Senior Tatianna Roman was named to the NFCA Leadoff Classic all-tournament team after batting .500, going 6-for-12 in five games picking up one RBI and two runs scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the second inning, redshirt junior Desiree Rivera started the inning with a leadoff single and reached second on a wild pitch. Iowa got two runners into scoring position after a pass ball. Johnson reached on an error that allowed the first run of the game to score.

Missouri tied the game, 1-1, on a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Hawkeyes managed to get two on in the sixth but were unable to capitalize with two outs. In the bottom of the sixth, Adams entered in relief with one runner on with two outs and shut the door on the Tigers.

In the top of the seventh, Iowa had its first two reach and both move into scoring position with no outs. Sophomore Jena Young gave Iowa the lead,2-1, on a sac fly to score Johnson. In the home half of the inning, the Tigers had two reach via walks but Adams was able to get two outs. Missouri capitalized on Iowa miscues plating the tying run on a throwing error from Adams and ultimately scored the walk-off run on a wild pitch. 

Iowa finished the game with two runs on six hits and one error. Missouri finished the game with three runs on five hits and had two errors.

• NOTABLES
• Eight Hawkeyes started all five games on the weekend
• Freshman Allyssa Ramos led the team with four RBIs
• Iowa finished the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a 2-3 record

UP NEXT

Iowa (2-3) travels next week to Commerce, Texas to play in the Lions Classic II. Iowa will face Abilene Christian and East Texas A&M on Friday, February 14 with action starting at 4:45 pm CT.