PHOENIX -- The University of Iowa softball team split day two of the Grand Canyon Invitational with a 2-0 victory over Georgetown and a 1-0 loss to Grand Canyon on Sunday morning at the GCU Softball Stadium.
After two scoreless innings against the Hoyas, the Hawkeyes took the lead in the third inning. Mallory Kilian blasted a two-run bomb, scoring Alex Rath and giving Iowa the 2-0 advantage.
Allison Doocy (4-3) took over from there. She recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts and allowed just four hits in her complete game performance, securing the win for the Hawkeyes.
This was Doocy’s sixth complete game, and second shutout, of the season.
In game two, Grand Canyon took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring on an RBI single up the middle and holding on for the win.
Lauren Shaw (2-4) suffered the loss, recording four strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched.
NOTABLES
· Kilian’s home run against the Hoyas was her second of the weekend. She now has three home runs this season and nine in her career.
· Kilian had the third stolen base of her career against Georgetown.
· Doocy had a career-high 15 strikeouts against Georgetown. This is the second time she has had 10 or more strikeouts this season.
QUOTING HEAD COACH MARLA LOOPER
“I knew Doocy could be very effective on the mound today. She did a nice job of getting ahead against Georgetown. They started laying off of the rise ball, so she had to get it down in the zone and come back with another pitch, but she didn’t give up. When she felt them get on their heels, she continued to attack. That’s what allowed her to have success today.
“It was good that we came out as hot as we did this weekend. Unfortunately, we came out a little bit flat in that second game and we didn’t get the outcome we wanted. Credit to Grand Canyon’s pitcher for throwing a nice ballgame. We have to be better tomorrow. It’s the rubber match with Grand Canyon. We know what we are getting and they know what they are getting. We need to scrap and claw and fight until we get the W.”
RECORDS UPDATE
· Iowa: 8-8
· Georgetown: 6-17
· GCU: 16-13
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes conclude the Grand Canyon Invitational on Monday with a 9 p.m. (CT) contest against Grand Canyon. The game will be live streamed on Youtube. A link can be found on the softball team’s schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.