Softball Drops One-Run Contest to Iowa

Saturday, April 15

Iowa City, Iowa

2:00 PM

Rutgers University

10-29, 1-10

Iowa

14-23, 7-6

Rutgers

Iowa

Apr 15 | Softball

Box Score

April 15, 2017

Final Stats

IOWA CITY, IOWA - The Rutgers softball suffered a one-run loss in the middle game of the series at Iowa, falling by the slim margin of 5-4 on Saturday afternoon at Pearl Field.

Despite RU generating a 4-0 lead in the contest by the fourth frame, UI used a four-run fourth inning to tie the game. The Hawkeyes inched into the lead with another run in the sixth. The Scarlet Knights would put the tying run in scoring position in the top of the seventh, but were unable to bring in the run.

Rutgers (10-29, 1-10 Big Ten) was led by freshman Taryn Atlee with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate. Junior Rebecca Hall registered a team-high two RBIs. Senior Aubrie Levine suffered the loss for RU.

Iowa (14-23, 7-6 Big Ten) was guided by Cheyenne Pratt with a 3-for-3 showing of her own, while Claire Fritsch notched a game-best three RBIs. Shayla Starkenburg earned the complete-game win.

In the top of the third, RU took a 2-0 lead in the contest on a two-RBI double for Hall. After a single for sophomore Nicolette Anico, senior Carly Todd reached on a fielder's choice and went on to steal second. Hall then sent a double to left field to score both runs.

Although Iowa put its third runner of the game on base in the bottom of the frame, sophomore Whitney Jones retired three straight at the plate to end the inning unharmed.

The Scarlet Knights then added two runs on two hits and an Iowa error to push its lead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth. A sacrifice bunt for senior Bridget Carr would move two runners in to scoring position. After an error allowed freshman Anyssa Iliopoulos to cross home, Atlee then sent classmate Hailey Hoklotubbe home with a bunt single.

The Hawkeyes countered with four runs on five hits to tie the score, 4-4, in the bottom of the fourth. From there, Levine entered the circle, retiring two of three batters at the plate to end the inning without any further damage.

Following a scoreless frame for both sides, Iowa's Pratt led off the second half of the sixth with a triple. A sacrifice bunt for Fritsch would then send Pratt home, moving the Hawkeyes into the lead, 5-4.

Although Atlee led off the seventh with a hit and rounded the bases to third, RU was unable to bring in the tying run.

UP NEXT
Rutgers and Iowa meet for the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

KNIGHT NOTES
-Taryn Atlee added her 14th multi-hit contest of the season and sixth contest with three or more hits.
-Rebecca Hall moved into a tie for seventh on the Rutgers all-time single-season chart with her 37^th RBI of the season. It marked Hall's 12^th multi-RBI game of the year.

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