Hawkeyes Sweep on Day 1 of LSU Invitational

Game 1 
Iowa got the day started with a win over Nicholls State behind a solid outing from senior Sereyah Neiss, who struck out five over four innings and recorded her 350th career strikeout in the third inning.

The Hawkeyes jumped out early in the bottom of the first. After freshman McKenzie Leitgen drew a two-out walk, sophomore Kiara Sipe followed with a single. Junior Leah McAnally delivered a two-run single down the line to put Iowa ahead, 2-0.

Iowa added two more runs in the second. Senior Avery Jackson singled and stole second before senior Tory Bennett drove her in with a double. Junior Devin Simon followed with an RBI double of her own to make it 4-0.

Bennett extended the lead with a leadoff solo home run in the fourth. The Colonels responded with a run in the fifth and added two in the seventh, but Iowa held on for the 5-3 victory.

Game 2
The Hawkeyes carried the momentum into Game 2, using a five-run third inning to pull away from Memphis.

Freshman Braylen Conlon earned the start and threw her first career complete game. The right-hander allowed two runs, struck out four and did not issue a walk, retiring 15 of the 18 batters she faced. She closed the game by retiring the final seven hitters.

Iowa opened the scoring in the second inning. Sipe reached on a walk and McAnally was hit by a pitch before sophomore Breanna Johnson brought home the first run with a sacrifice fly. A double steal later in the inning plated another run to make it 2-0.

Memphis answered with a two-run home run in the bottom half, but Iowa responded quickly.

In the third, Jackson, Bennett and Simon loaded the bases with no outs. Leitgen lifted a sacrifice fly to regain the lead, and McAnally singled to reload the bases. Plate discipline proved key as Johnson, freshmen Kiyah Chavez and Mariah Myers drew consecutive RBI walks to cap the five-run inning

Iowa added two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to trigger the run rule. Myers delivered an RBI single in the fifth, and Jackson added a sacrifice fly to seal the 11-2 victory.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH STACY-MAY JOHNSON

“We got two strong starts from our pitchers today, and they really shut down opposing offenses. Sereyah has been consistently improving, and we’re thrilled she’s a Hawkeye. We started fast in Game 1 and held on, and Game 2 was full speed throughout. It was important to bounce back, but we have to build on this and stay consistent. We’re still learning to play together, but we’re getting close.”

NOTABLES

• Neiss moved into the program’s all-time strikeout leaderboard and improved to 7-0 on the season.

• Conlon’s complete game was Iowa’s first of the season and the first win of her career.

• McAnally went 3-for-6 with three RBIs.

• Bennett, Johnson and Myers each recorded two RBIs.