Stephen F. Austin
Iowa
Ladyjacks Drop Opener
2/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 6, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas - Iowa took advantage of a pair of SFA miscues in a six-run third inning and went on to record a six-inning, 8-0 win over the Ladyjacks Friday in the season-opening, first-round game at the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational.
The Hawkeyes, an NCAA Tournament team a year ago who received votes in the NFCA Preseason Top 25, held SFA to just one hit. Sophomore Monica Hirsch beat out an infield single to third in the first at-bat of the game but was stranded on second after moving over on a sacrifice bunt by junior Kendal Harper.
The Ladyjacks managed just two baserunners the rest of the way, as Iowa starter Brittany Weil recorded seven strikeouts.
SFA sophomore Lauren Luetge held Iowa to one hit through the first two innings before the Hawkeyes broke through in the third. Iowa got on the board with a one-out home run by Sam Heinzman. An infield single and a mis-played sacrifice bunt left the Hawkeyes with runners at the corners and one out. Iowa pushed another run across with a double steal, then scratched again when the next batter doubled to right-center.
After a single down the right-field line followed by a stolen base put two runners in scoring position with one out, Luetge got a strikeout and looked to be almost out of the jam. But the next batter reached on an infield error, allowing both runs to score, and the Hawkeyes would tack on a sixth run on a double down the left-field line before SFA could escape the inning.
Iowa put together two hits and a walk with two out in the fourth to add to its lead, then Heinzman hit her second bomb of the game in the bottom of the sixth, to end the game by run-rule an inning early.
Luetge (0-1) worked five full innings and allowed five earned runs on nine hits and a walk. She struck out four.
The Ladyjacks will be back in action at 7:30 p.m. Friday, as they take on tournament host Texas.
-- SFA --
