Syracuse University
Iowa (N.I.S.T.)
Orangewomen Softball Loses to No. 17 Iowa
3/8/2002 5:13:08 PM | Softball
PLEASANTON, Calif. - The Syracuse softball team lost its first game of the National Invitational Softball Tournament hosted by San Jose State, 9-1, to 17th-ranked Iowa in six innings on Friday, Mar. 8. The Orangewomen are now 2-4, while the Hawkeyes improved to 8-3.
The Orangewomen plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Junior centerfielder Christina Holowich (Castro Valley, Calif./Moreau Catholic) led off with a triple and scored on a two-out single by sophomore first baseman Cheryl Julicher (Williamsville N.Y./Williamsville North).
The Hawkeyes took the lead for good in the top of the second with three unearned runs. Christina Schmaltz started the inning with a single and moved to third when Jessica Bashor reached on a fielder's choice and the throw from SU pitcher Heather Brown (Farmington, N.M./Farmington), attempting to make a play at second, got away. Kristin Johnson drove in both runs with a triple down the left field line. After a walk put runners on the corners, Johnson scored on a successful double steal.
Iowa plated another unearned run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Lori Leon. The Hawks broke the game open in the sixth with five runs. Lindsay Bashor drove in a run with a triple and Katie Boney plated two runs with a double.
Freshman catcher Katie Kaempfer (Las Vegas, Nev./Bonanza) had two hits in the game. Her single in the third inning was her first collegiate hit. Junior designated player Julie Dunn (Springfield, Ill./Springfield) also had a hit for the Orangewomen.
Brown (1-2) was the losing pitcher. She threw five and one-thirds innings, striking out six and walking three. Only two of the six runs she allowed were earned. Sarah Thomson (3-0) was the winner for the Hawkeyes. She allowed five hits and struck out two in the complete-game effort.
Syracuse continues play at the N.I.S.T. with a 5 p.m. ET matchup with Georgia Tech. SU will also take on top-ranked UCLA at 11 p.m. ET on Friday before beginning the braket portion of the tournament on Saturday.
