UI Athletics news release
Feb. 13, 2026 | Complete Release
Iowa Softball
Communications Contact: Adrian Delgado
Iowa Sweeps Day One of MUSB Invitational I
MACON, Ga. – The University of Iowa softball team opened play at the MUSB Invitational I with a pair of wins Friday, walking off Army (7-6) and defeating host Mercer (10-2), in six innings at Sikes Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Iowa secured its second walk-off victory in the last three games, rallying past Army, 7-6.
Trailing, 6-3, in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Hawkeyes mounted a late surge. Freshman Kiara Sipe reached on a throwing error and advanced to second on a pinch-hit single by freshman Phoenyx Silva. Senior Avery Jackson followed with an infield single to load the bases with no outs.
Freshman McKenzie Leitgen then stepped in as a pinch hitter and delivered a walk-off grand slam two pitches into the at-bat to seal the victory.
Iowa struck first in the second inning when senior Devin Simon launched a solo home run. Army responded in the third with back-to-back home runs to take a 4-1 lead.
The Black Knights added another run in the fourth, but Iowa answered in the bottom half when Sipe lifted a sacrifice fly to score freshman Kiyah Chavez.
Army extended its lead to 6-3 in the top of the seventh, capitalizing on two hits and an error. Senior Sereyah Neiss recorded the final out of the inning and earned the win, her third of the season.
Game 2
The Hawkeyes scored early and often in a 10-2 run-rule victory over Mercer.
Senior Tory Bennett opened the scoring with a leadoff home run in the first inning. Three walks loaded the bases for sophomore Breanna Johnson, who drove in two runs with a single to center field. During a double-steal attempt with runners on first and third, Mercer threw to second in an attempt to catch Johnson stealing, allowing Sipe to score from third and cap a four-run inning.
Iowa extended its lead to 6-0 in the third. Simon hit her second home run of the day, and junior Breanna Caffery later scored after stealing second and advancing home on a throwing error.
The Hawkeyes added two more runs in the fourth. A pair of singles and two sacrifice flies resulted in RBIs for Simon and junior Leah McAnally, pushing the lead to 8-0.
Mercer cut into the deficit in the fifth with a two-run double to left-center field, making it 8-2.
Iowa responded with back-to-back home runs by Leitgen and Sipe to secure the six-inning win.
Freshman Braylen Conlon started in the circle, tossing 3 2/3 innings of one-hit ball with one strikeout. Neiss entered in the fourth inning and struck out five of the 12 batters she faced to earn her fourth win.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH STACY MAY-JOHNSON
“McKenzie Leitgen’s been swinging it well. She’s been hitting great in practice and had a strong showing in Florida. With the bases loaded, that’s an easy call. There’s explosiveness in this offense. We have athletes who can drive the ball, and when they take balanced, aggressive swings, good things happen. Every win is a good win. Army challenged us, but we’re proud to come away 2-0 today.”
NOTABLES
- Iowa hit six home runs and recorded eight extra-base hits on the day.
- Five of Leitgen’s six hits this season have gone for extra bases.
- Bennett has tallied five extra-base hits in her last four games.
- Neiss struck out six batters on the day and increased her career total to 331.
- Avery Sapp’s 4 2/3 innings of relief in Game 1 marked the longest outing by an Iowa pitcher this season.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action on Saturday to face Army at 9 a.m. (CT) and Western Kentucky at 11:30 a.m. (CT) on day two of the MUSB Invitational I.