Iowa softball saw a perfect weekend in Macon, Georgia, posting a 4-0 record at the MUSB Invitational. The Hawkeyes took down Army, 7-6, and later, 8-2, and defeated Mercer, 10-2, in six innings, and beat Western Kentucky, 8-6.
The Hawkeyes are now 7-2 overall, having won their last four games after a 6-3 loss to Marshall on Feb. 8.
“We’re playing better softball; we’re just a more complete team than we were a week ago,” head coach Stacey May-Johnson told Hawkeye Sports. “One of the good things about playing behind is you get good at it. We played behind a little bit last week and that was good experience.”
Close Victory Over Army
After trailing 6-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Iowa rallied with a four-run inning to walk off the Black Knights.
A throwing error and two hits loaded the bases for the Hawkeyes, with second-year Kiara Sipe, first-year Phoenyx Silva, and fourth-year Avery Jackson each occupying a base.
Freshman McKenzie Leitgen stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and, two pitches later, rocketed a walk-off grand slam to empty the bases and give the Hawkeyes their first win of the weekend.
Hawkeyes Handle Bears
In a six-inning showdown, Iowa toppled Mercer, 10-2, for a run-rule victory. The Hawkeyes scored four runs in the first inning alone, later adding four more over the third and fourth innings and holding the Bears scoreless until the fifth.
Iowa drilled 10 hits over the course of the contest against Mercer, compared to five hits for the latter. The Hawkeyes also kept themselves free of errors, while the Bears picked up two errors.
“There’s explosiveness in this offense,” May-Johnson told Hawkeye Sports. “We have athletes who can drive the ball, and when they take balanced, aggressive swings, good things happen. Every win is a good win. Army challenged us, but we’re proud to come away 2-0 today.”
Hawkeyes Bag Rematch Win
Facing off for the second time in two days, Iowa took an early lead out of the gate and, rather than a come-from-behind walk-off, paced Army to an 8-2 victory.
While the first meeting between the two teams saw the Hawkeyes down until the very last minute, relying on Leitgen’s explosive hit to win the game, Iowa took a crucial 4-0 lead in the third inning of Saturday’s game.
Despite two runs from the Black Knights in the fifth inning, the Hawkeyes picked up four more runs in the seventh while also outhitting their opponent, 12-5.
While neither program picked up any errors, Iowa’s steady slugging, such as back-to-back home runs from Leitgen and first-year Mariah Myers, saw the Hawkeyes through to their third win of the weekend.
Iowa Closes the Deal Against Western Kentucky
Trailing late for the second instance across the weekend, the Hawkeyes overcame the Hilltoppers with a gradual comeback after trailing, 4-1, after the opening frame.
Although Iowa was outhit by Western Kentucky, 11-7, the two teams broke even in errors, 1-1, while the Hawkeyes’ three runs in the sixth gave them the 8-5 lead.
While the Hilltoppers fought back with one last run in the top of the seventh, the Hawkeyes pulled off the 8-6 win. Third-year pitcher Avery Sapp picked up the win with three innings in relief, allowing just one run with three strikeouts and no walks.
Up next
Iowa travels to Buies Creek, North Carolina, for another five-game weekend stretch, this time at the Campbell Softball Tournament. Iowa will face Radford and Campbell twice each on Friday and Saturday, before taking on Miami (Ohio) in Sunday’s contest.