Hawkeyes Down Jackrabbits

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Iowa softball team swept South Dakota State in a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Bob Pearl Field. The Hawkeyes won game one, 7-1, and game two, 4-2.

Junior Jalen Adams (15-3) got the start in game one for Iowa. In her 15th start of the season, she threw her 10th complete game. Adams held the Jackrabbits to one run on three hits and struck out six. Eight different Hawkeyes recorded a hit, with four of them recording two. Sophomore Jena Young led the way, going 2-for-3 and tallying three RBIs.

The Hawkeyes went to freshman Talia Tretton (6-3) in game two. She threw her fifth complete game of the season picking up a career-high 10 strikeouts. Junior Echo Mattiello led the way offensively going 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1

Adams started out in the circle, and the Hawkeyes delivered a three up, three down inning. Two Hawkeyes managed to get on in the bottom of the first but were unable to capitalize to get on the board.

The Jackrabbits scored their lone run of the game in the top of the second inning on an RBI single after a leadoff double. Iowa answered back by loading the bases on two walks and a single. Young then singled up the middle to score Tretton and junior Avery Jackson to give the Hawkeyes the lead, 2-1. Junior Tory Bennett extended the lead on an RBI single to score senior Tatianna Roman. The bases were left loaded at the end of the inning for the but Iowa had the lead, 3-1.

South Dakota State stranded two runners in the top of the third. The Hawkeyes added insurance in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Devin Simon and senior Hannah Lindsay had back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly from Jackson scored Simon. One runner was left one, but Iowa extended its lead, 4-1.

Adams sat the Jackrabbits down in order in both the fourth and fifth innings. In the bottom of the fifth Rivera double started the inning with a double to right. Tretton followed with an RBI single to push the Iowa lead to four. Simon and Jackson drew back-to-back walks to load the bases and Young was hit by a pitch to walk in a run for Iowa. The Hawkeyes led, 6-1, after five. 

Iowa continued to swing a hot bat in the sixth as Berry and Rivera reached on back-to-back hits to start the inning. Berry attempted to take home on Rivera's double but was tagged out at home. With Rivera on third, Johnson drew a walk with one out. Simon cashed in with a sac fly to center, scoring Rivera, and giving the Hawkeyes their final run of the game, 7-1.

South Dakota State attempted to fight back by getting two runners on, but Iowa ended the game.

Iowa finished with seven runs on 12 hits. South Dakota State finished the game with one run on three hits.

Game 2

Iowa set the tone early for the game two with three up and three down to start. In the bottom of the inning, Bennett reached on a fielding error by the Jackrabbits, but no other Hawkeyes reached base.

Tretton retired South Dakota State in order in the top of the second picking up one strikeout. Iowa was first on the board with two runs in the second. Sophomore Devin Bowman singled with a runner on first and was able to advance to second on the throw to get two runners into scoring position with one out. Mattiello delivered for Iowa with a single up middle, scoring Simon and Bowman giving the Hawkeyes the early lead, 2-0.

South Dakota State picked up a one out double, but back-to-back strikeouts from Tretton ended the threat in the third. The Hawkeyes added another run in the bottom half of the inning. Berry doubled to center field, and Rivera scored her after a single through the right side, 3-0. 

Tretton continued to keep SDSU quiet retiring the Jackrabbits in order, picking up two strikeouts in the fourth. Mattiello and Young both reached on singles, but neither found their was home for the Hawkeyes in the inning.

South Dakota State was retired in order, with Tretton picking up three strikeouts to start the fifth. Iowa managed to get another runner into scoring position but was unable to plate another run. Tretton picked up two strikeouts in the top of the fifth, set her new career-high with 10 in the game.

Jackson singled up the middle for Iowa in the bottom of the sixth, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Mattiello was next up and reached on an error, while also scoring Jackson for Iowa's last run of the game, 4-0.

South Dakota State attempted to come back in the top of the seventh. A walk followed by Jackrabbit double to center scored SDSU's first run of the game. The Jackrabbits plated another run on an RBI single to cut the lead in half, 4-2. The Hawkeye defense ended the threat with back-to-back outs to end the game.

Iowa finished the game with four runs on nine hits. South Dakota State finished the game with four runs on nine hits and three errors.

HEAR FROM ACTING HEAD COACH KARL GOLLAN
"The hardest thing after an emotionally charged weekend can be regaining focus, but the team did a good job of staying on task. Especially the bench did a great job at keeping the energy and the players were engaged. Tonight was the definition of a team win."

NOTABLES

• Berry is on a nine game hitting streak, with five straight multi-hit games.
• Over the last 10 games Berry is hitting .500 (15-for-30) with six RBIs
• Young leads the team with seven RBIs over the last 10 games.

UP NEXT
Iowa (21-9) travels to Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, March 28, for its three game series against Wisconsin. First pitch at Goodman Sports Complex is scheduled for 4 pm CT on Friday and will be streamed on B1G+ ($).