UI Athletics news release
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The University of Iowa softball team split Friday’s doubleheader against Ohio State, dropping game one, 5-2, and run-ruling the Buckeyes, 9-1, in five innings in the nightcap.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One
Ohio State scored first in the first inning with a two-out, two-run homer. The Buckeyes doubled their lead the next frame with another two-run long ball.
In the third, the Buckeyes tacked on another with a solo shot.
The Hawkeyes tallied two runs in the seventh. Phoenyx Silva led the inning off with a walk and traded places with Logan Currie as a pinch runner. Currie advanced to third off a single and an Avery Jackson fielder’s choice. Tory Bennett sent a ball to center field for the sacrifice fly to put Iowa on the board. Following the run, Devin Simon singled to right, scoring Jackson.
In the circle, Carly Brewer entered in relief in the fourth and dealt for three innings, only allowing one hit.
Game Two
The Buckeyes led 1-0 after an RBI single in the second inning.
The Hawkeyes quickly answered with an offensive onslaught in the third. Jackson hit a leadoff solo home run to even the contest. Bennett and Simon followed with consecutive singles, allowing Kiara Sipe to draw an error and score Bennett. Leah McAnally singled and with two runners on, McKenzie Leitgen sent a ball to the right field wall for a two-run double. The scoring continued as Kiyah Chavez followed with a single, plating two more. Chavez advanced all the way to third on an error, allowing Brianna Johnson to bring her in with a sacrifice fly and cap the seven-run frame.
The Hawkeyes enacted the run-rule in the fifth when Johnson sent a two-run, and her first career, round-tripper over the left field wall to make it 9-1.
Avery Sapp got the starting nod in the circle and went the distance. The right-hander recorded her first complete game of the season, pitching five complete innings with three strikeouts. After Ohio State’s lone run, Sapp promptly retired the next 10 batters.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH STACY MAY-JOHNSON
“This is a team that has shown they can respond and bounce back. Things didn’t go the way we wanted in game one. The Big Ten is a grind, especially on the road. There’s going to be ones you have to work for and that was one of them. But we came back in game two and gave ourselves a chance to win the series on Sunday. Avery Sapp was really good tonight. She had them guessing the whole time and every time they found a barrel, defense ran the ball down.”
NOTABLES
- Avery Jackson and Brianna Johnson both homered in Iowa’s win, with Johnson’s being the first of her career.
- Jackson went 3-for-6 on the day with an RBI and two runs scored
- Johnson led the team with 3 RBIs in the doubleheader
- Avery Sapp is three strikeouts away from 200 in her career.
UP NEXT
First pitch for Sunday’s rubber match against Ohio State is scheduled for 10 a.m. (CT). Fans can watch on B1G+ (subscription required).