Hawkeyes Split Day 2 of LSU Invitational

BATON ROUGE, La. – The University of Iowa softball team split Day 2 of the LSU Invitational, defeating Nicholls, 8-5, and falling to No. 17 LSU, 5-3, at Tiger Park. Iowa moves to 13-6 on the season.

The Hawkeyes broke through in the third with a two-out rally. With two runners on, freshman Phoenyx Silva delivered an RBI single for the game’s first run. Senior Avery Jackson followed with a two-run double, and after a walk to senior Tory Bennett, junior Devin Simon cleared the bases with a three-run triple to give Iowa a 5-0 lead.

Nicholls answered in the next frame, using a leadoff home run and four additional runs to tie the game at 5-5.

Iowa responded in the fourth. After loading the bases, Simon recorded a two-run double — her second extra-base hit of the game to regain the lead. Freshman McKenzie Leitgen added a sacrifice fly to right to make it 8-5.

Junior Avery Sapp entered in relief in the sixth and closed the door, retiring six of the seven batters she faced to earn her first save of the season. Sapp allowed one walk in two scoreless innings. Freshman Braylen Conlon picked up the win, striking out three in relief.

LSU plated the game’s first run with an RBI single in the first inning. Iowa evened the score in the third on a double steal. Freshman Kiyah Chavez singled to lead off the inning and moved to third on a wild pitch and a Bennett single. Bennett took off for second, drawing a throw that allowed Chavez to score uncontested.

The Tigers regained the lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the third and added three runs in the fourth on a bases-loaded double to extend its advantage to 5-1.

The Hawkeyes chipped away in the fifth. Chavez walked and pinch hitter redshirt sophomore Nailyn Marshall doubled to put two in scoring position. Jackson lifted a sacrifice fly to left to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Iowa loaded the bases in the sixth, and junior Leah McAnally brought home a run to make it 5-3, but the rally fell short.

Senior Sereyah Neiss threw her first complete game of the season, allowing five runs over six innings with one strikeout.

“We were sharp offensively all day. We hit several hard line drives right at people, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Our pitchers handled game one well, and Sereyah gave us a solid outing in game two. We’re disappointed not to get the second win, but we saw a lot of growth this weekend. Conference play will be a dogfight, and we have to be tough and prepared.”

• Devin Simon led Iowa with four RBIs and one run on the day, hitting .375 for the weekend.

• Avery Jackson went 4-for-9 with four runs scored over four games.

• Braylen Conlon earned her first two wins of the season in consecutive appearances.

• Hawkeye pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts across the two-day invitational.

Iowa opens Big Ten play at Ohio State, facing the Buckeyes in a three-game series at Buckeye Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. (CT) Friday, noon (CT) Saturday and 11 a.m. (CT) Sunday.