The Iowa softball team swept Illinois this weekend, outscoring the Illini, 30-16, in three games. The Hawkeyes are now 18-8 and 4-2 in conference play, ahead of their first home series next week against Minnesota.
“It’s good to get a conference sweep on the road — you can’t get any better than that,” head coach Stacy May-Johnson told Hawkeye Sports.
Game One Hit Parade
Iowa’s 21-15 win over Illinois on Friday evening was nothing short of electric, with a total of nine home runs hit between both teams, adding to the total of 29 hits.
After falling behind 10-4 after two innings, the Hawkeyes put together an eight-run third inning to take the lead from the Fighting Illini and never looked back.
Many performances stood out, but none more than second-year Brianna Johnson’s two-homer, six-RBI day, which helped fuel the Hawkeyes on an action-filled night.
“It was a slugfest tonight, but there was no panic from our team after we got hit early,” May-Johnson told Hawkeye Sports. “Brianna Johnson has been swinging the bat really well, so it was great to see her have success.”
Third-year Avery Sapp also had a historic night, recording her 200th career strikeout in 6 ⅓ innings pitched. After a rough outing from Serayah Neiss in the bottom of the 1st, Sapp took the circle, looked to redeem her teammate and secure her fifth win of the season.
Other standout performances include Devin Simon with four hits and three RBIs, and Kiara Sipe with four hits and five RBIs.
Hawkeyes Strike Early in Game Two
The Hawkeyes carried their momentum over from Friday evening, winning the first of two games on Saturday, 7-1.
A triple from Sipe in the top half of the first knocked in two runs, and a double the inning after knocked in two more, earning herself four RBIs on the day, giving Iowa the early lead.
A homerun from junior Leah McAnelly in the fifth extended the Hawkeye lead to five, while first-year Kiyah Chavez drove in the other two in the fifth and seventh innings.
After some struggle earlier in the season, first-year Carly Brewer finished a complete game in the circle, taking a shutout into the sixth, where she surrendered her only run on a single.
Iowa Completes Sweep With Shutout
Iowa battled early in the game, earning two hits in the first inning, but couldn’t capitalize with any runs.
First-year Braylen Conlan led the way for the Hawkeyes in the circle. She would see some pressure throughout the game, but battled adversity as she completed the shutout with six strikeouts and only two walks.
“It’s good to get a conference sweep on the road — you can’t get any better than that. Braylen and Carly were phenomenal, giving up only one run in 14 innings. Those two are very talented, and we know they’re going to be successful pitchers in this program for many years,” May-Johnson told Hawkeye Sports.
To end the fifth frame, fourth-year Avery Jackson made a diving stop at third base to end the inning. She then stepped up to bat as the leadoff hitter in the top of the sixth and smashed a home run over the left field wall to break the tie.
Sipe also helped to open up the game with a single of her own to center, which scored Simon from third.
Up Next
Iowa will return home next week to face Minnesota at Pearl Field in a three-game series for its home opener on Friday, March 20, through Sunday, March 22. First pitch for Friday’s game is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST on Big Ten Plus.