University of Minnesota Athletics
Iowa Defeats Golden Gopher Softball 6-2
5/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
- Box Score
The University of Minnesota softball team (31-20, 8-8) was defeated by Iowa, 6-2, on Saturday afternoon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The Hawkeyes (35-19, 12-4) outhit the Golden Gophers, 8-4, to earn a split of the two-game series.
Iowa jumped ahead early with a pair of runs in the first inning. Natalie Johnson led off the inning with a single and Amanda Hentges reached on a throwing error. The Hawkeyes scored their first run on a double steal as Johnson beat the throw home. Hentges would come around to score on Kylie Murray's sacrifice fly.
Minnesota knotted the game in the second inning with a pair of runs with two outs. Rachel Keeney reached on a single up the middle. She came around to score on the next pitch as Lindsey Erickson lined a triple down the right field line. Erickson raced home to tie the game on a wild pitch from Iowa starter Ali Arnold.
The Hawkeyes regained the lead for good in the third inning as Johnson singled to right field and Hentges was hit by a pitch. Stacy May drove home the eventual game-winning run with a single up the middle.
Iowa tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning as Emily Gerlick drove home two runs with a single down the right field line. She would come around to score on Johnson's double to right center.
Johnson finished the game with three hits, two runs and an RBI, while May went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Hawkeyes.
Arnold earned the victory for Iowa after allowing two runs on four hits. She struck out four Golden Gophers. Lyn Peyer took the loss for Minnesota. She pitched 5.1 innings and allowed five runs, three earned, on six hits with two strikeouts.
Minnesota concludes the home portion of its schedule tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader against Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for Noon. The Golden Gophers will honor their three seniors: Piper Marten, Andrea Smith and Hailee Nanchy.
