Hawkeyes Dominate Terrapins in Doubleheader

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Iowa softball team swept Maryland in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Maryland Softball Stadium. The Hawkeyes defeated the Terrapins in game one, 6-1, and game two, 9-0, in five innings.

Junior Jalen Adams (18-5) got the start in the circle for Iowa. In her 22nd start of the season, Adams threw her 13th complete game, fanning three and walking one. Six different Hawkeyes registered a hit, and six Hawkeyes registered an RBI in the gam. Sophomore Soo-Jin Berry led the way in the batters box, going 2-for-3 with one RBI. 

Freshman Talia Tretton (7-7) got the start in the circle in game two for Iowa. In her 16th start of the season, Tretton threw her sixth complete game, fanning three and walking one. Seven different Hawkeyes registered a hit, with junior Echo Mattiello leading the way going 3-for-4 with one RBI. Tretton helped herself out going 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

The game started with the Hawkeyes being retired in order. The Terrapins were first on the board, scoring one in the home half. The first Maryland batter was walked and came around to score on a one-out RBI single.

Iowa quickly answered back and set the tone for the rest of the evening. Junior Tory Bennett started the inning with a walk, and Berry brought her home on an RBI triple, tying the game 1-1. Freshman Allyssa Ramos followed up with a double, scoring Berry to give Iowa the lead, 2-1. The Hawkeyes loaded the bases with one out in the inning. Sophomore Jena Young cashed in singling through the left side to score Ramos, 3-1. A sacrifice fly from Mattiello scored Tretton for the final Hawkeye run of the inning, 4-1. Adams retired the Terrapins in order in the bottom half of the inning.

The Hawkeyes added two insurance runs in the top of the fourth. Iowa got two runners into scoring position with one out in the innings. Redshirt junior Desiree Rivera grounded out to bring home Young pushing the lead to 5-1. Bennett singled up the middle to bring Mattiello home extending Iowa's lead to five. 

Adams locked down the Maryland order the rest of the way retiring nine straight Terrapins to close out the game and seal the victory. 

Iowa finished the game with six runs on eight hits. Maryland finished the game with one run on two hits and had one error.

Iowa opened the scoring early plating two runs in the opening frame. The Hawkeyes had their first two batters reach in Young and Mattiello, getting into scoring position after a walk and a single. Rivera delivered with an RBI double to give Iowa the, 2-0, lead. Tretton had a shut down inning in the bottom. 

The Hawkeyes kept the momentum going plating two more in the second. With two outs, Young singled up the middle, scoring Tretton from second. Mattiello kept it going with a single through left to make it 4-0. Tretton retired the Terrapins in order to send the game to the third inning. 

Iowa's bats stayed hot in the fifth plating five runs on four hits. Iowa loaded the bases with one out and Tretton delivered with a bases clearing double to push lead the seven. Jackson and Simon continued the rally with back-to-back RBI hits giving Iowa the, 9-0, lead. Tretton picked up two strikeouts in the bottom of the inning to secure the run-rule win for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa finished the game with nine runs on 11 hits and had one error. Maryland finished the game with no runs on two hits.

"The top of the hitting order consistently set the table for the rest of the line up to get pitches to hit, and run scoring opportunities. They took the opportunities and did their job, and while on the defensive side the pitchers did a good job of executing the plan and giving the defense playable balls. We were fairly clear on both sides of the ball tonight, and got the results for doing so."