Indiana sweeps the Hawkeyes in a three-game series in Bloomington.
By Mario Williams
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The Iowa softball team now stands at 8-19 (0-3 Big Ten) after opening conference play in Bloomington, Indiana, by losing three straight.
Iowa fell to the Hoosiers, 5-3, in the opener on March 25.
“We didn’t make the adjustments soon enough today,” Iowa head coach Marla Looper said in a release. “That’s the name of the game. That’s where we have to be better tomorrow.”
Redshirt senior Holly Hoffman gave Iowa its first lead of the contest, taking advantage of a RBI opportunity with a double. Indiana didn’t let Iowa’s quick lead keep it in the game, however; the Hoosiers plated 4 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks in the bottom of the first inning.
With two outs in the top of the third inning, Iowa freshman Mallory Kilian walloped a 2-run home run to narrow the lead.
“Mallory has been seeing and squaring the ball well,” Looper said in a release. “That home run did not surprise me. I was happy for her, and it was nice to have a runner on.”
But Indiana sealed the deal with another run in the bottom of the sixth.
Junior Elizabeth Wiegand took the loss in the circle, allowing 5 earned runs on 8 hits and 10 walks.
On the second day of the series, Indiana scored 6 runs in the sixth inning to snare another win.
“In the sixth, Indiana took advantage of a couple opportunities, and we struggled finding the zone,” Looper said in a release. “The wheels kind of fell off there. We just have to be tougher down the stretch. We can start ball games, but we have to figure out how to stay strong through the end.”
Redshirt junior Shayla Starkenburg took the loss in the circle, allowing 8 runs on 12 hits and 2 walks.
On the last day of the series, Iowa still never found any rhythm,. and Indiana downed the Hawkeyes, 10-5. Iowa had a scoreless first inning but finally got the bats to hit in the second inning.
Senior Whitney Repole, sophomore Allie Wood, and Kaitlyn Mullarkey got things swinging for the Hawkeyes in an early 3-0 lead, with Mullarkey hitting her fifth home run of the season. Killian had another home run in the top of the fifth, and then Iowa scored its last run of the game in the sixth.
Iowa will play its home-opener on Wednesday against Drake.
“We love our fans, and we love how much they care about us,” said Looper. “We are very fortunate to have great supporters, and we are excited to finally play in front of them.”
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