Hawkeyes Sweep Home Opener

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Iowa softball team swept St. Thomas in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Bob Pearl Field. The Hawkeyes took game one, 3-1, before securing a walk off win in eight innings, 1-0, in game two.

Junior Jalen Adams (12-2) got the start in the home opener for Iowa. In her 12^th start of the season, she threw her ninth complete game. Adams held the Tommies to one run on five hits and struck out 10, matching her career high. Seven different Hawkeyes recorded a hit, with Jena Young, Allyssa Ramos and Talia Tretton picking up RBIs.

The Hawkeyes went to freshman Talia Tretton (4-3) in game two. She threw her fourth complete game of the season picking up nine strikeouts. Sophomore Soo-Jin Berry led the way going 2-for-2 and senior Tatianna Roman picked up the only RBI of the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
The Tommies got on the board early, 1-0, plating one run in the opening frame on an RBI double. The Hawkeyes were retired in order in the home half of the inning. Adams retired the St. Thomas hitters in order in the second inning and left one stranded in the third.

Iowa picked up its first hit of the game on in infield single from sophomore Devin Simon in the third. The Hawkeyes managed to get runners on the corners with one out and Young cashed in with an RBI single to bring home Simon and tie the game at one. The Tommies ended the threat with a double play to get out of the inning.

St. Thomas led off the fourth with a double, but Adams locked in and retired the next three Tommie hitters to get out of the inning. Redshirt junior Desiree Rivera reached on a hit-by-pitch with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Iowa took the lead, 2-1, on an RBI single from Tretton.

Adams continued to cruise retiring the Tommies in order in the fifth picking up two more strikeouts. In the sixth, the Hawkeyes had their first two hitters reach base. Ramos added an insurance run for Iowa with a double to right to extend the lead, 3-1. Iowa continued to threaten with runners on second and third, but St. Thomas got out of the inning limiting the damage.

The Tommies threatened in the bottom of the seventh with two free passes, but Adams picked up two strikeouts to close out the game.

Iowa finished with three runs on seven hits. St. Thomas finished the game with one run on five hits and two errors.

Game 2
Tretton picked up her 10^th start of the season in game two. She retired the Tommies in order to start the game recording two strikeouts. Iowa managed to get one on in the bottom of the inning but were unable to get on the board early.

St. Thomas had its first two batters reach on a double and a walk in the second inning. Tretton ended the threat retiring the next three Tommie hitters to get out of the inning.

Berry led off the home half of the fourth with a single and got to third with one. The Tommies got out of the inning with a double play throwing out what would have been the first run of the game at home.

Tretton continued to deal picking up two more strikeouts in the fifth keeping the game scoreless. Rivera led off the bottom of the inning with a single and got into scoring position after a walk to Tretton and a sacrifice bunt from Simon. Iowa was unable to cash in as both runners were left stranded.

In the sixth, Tretton retired the Tommies in order for the third time. Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

The game was played with the international-tie breaker rule in effect placing a runner at second base in the eighth inning. The Tommies got the runner to third on a sac bunt. Iowa had a heads-up defensive play getting the out at third on a safety squeeze attempt. Tretton struck out the next hitter to get out of the inning unscathed.

In the bottom of the eighth, junior Avery Jackson was placed on second for Iowa. Simon moved her to third on a sac bunt. Roman put the ball on play as Jackson came home. The Tommies attempted to get the out at home, but Jackson slid on safely for the walk-off win.

Iowa finished the game with one run on four hits. The Tommies were held to no runs on five hits and one error.

HEAR FROM ACTING HEAD COACH KARL GOLLAN
"Story of the night was pitching. Jalen and Talia were able to manage their lineups until we were able to put something together offensively. We didn’t play our best, but we found a way to close the deal which is an important part of the teams growth and maturity which I feel like we are going through."

NOTABLES

• Game two was Iowa’s first game this season with extra innings.
• Adams (10) and Tretton (9) both matched their career-high in strikeouts
• Second-straight season that Iowa has opened its home slate 2-0

UP NEXT
Iowa (16-8) travels to Bloomington, Indiana on Saturday, March 15, for its Big Ten opener at Indiana. First pitch at Andy Mohr Field is scheduled for 5 pm CT and will be streamed on B1G+ ($).