Hawkeyes pound 'Winds at home
Michael Vaught
Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: Sports
The Westerwinds softball team fell 9-1 to Iowa on Wednesday afternoon at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium.
The 'Winds (14-15) were unable to hold off a strong Iowa (31-9) team that was able to get nine runs on 13 hits through six innings.
"Iowa is a great team. They hit the ball well and deserved to win, but I think our defense did not play well today and that contributed to the loss," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen.
Freshman pitcher Ashley Campbell started the game for the 'Winds, but after two scoreless innings the Hawkeyes put together a big third inning against her, amassing four runs on six hits and jumping out to the early lead.
Junior pitcher Lori Pankratz took over for Campbell in the third, and after getting the last two outs of the inning, Iowa got the better of her as well. The Hawkeyes' hitters clicked for the next three innings compiling seven hits and five runs.
The 'Winds' only run of the game came in the sixth inning when sophomore outfielder Collen Biebel was able to hit an infield single and wound up at third due to an Iowa error at first base.
Sophomore infielder Michelle Prieto drove Biebel in to score after she reached base on another Iowa error by the first baseman. However, Iowa quickly put a stop to the 'Winds' rally when they sent the next three batters down in order to end the inning and the 'Winds' chance of scoring again.
The weather and high winds were certainly a factor Wednesday, as both teams seemed to struggle with fly balls to the outfield.
"We have to be able to keep the ball in front of us in the outfield," Van Vlymen said. "We can't afford to give up two or three bases on a hit to the outfield."
Despite the loss, the 'Winds were able to dust it off and take something from the contest.
"The outcome was not what we wanted," Van Vlymen said. "But I am glad the team learned from the loss. The girls talked after the game on how to move on after the loss. They know exactly what they need to do to move on from here and they talked about communicating more and picking up the defense."
The 'Winds will travel to face conference foe Southern Utah this weekend in a three game series. They play a double header on Saturday with Game 1 set to begin at 1 p.m.
The 'Winds (14-15) were unable to hold off a strong Iowa (31-9) team that was able to get nine runs on 13 hits through six innings.
"Iowa is a great team. They hit the ball well and deserved to win, but I think our defense did not play well today and that contributed to the loss," said head coach Holly Van Vlymen.
Freshman pitcher Ashley Campbell started the game for the 'Winds, but after two scoreless innings the Hawkeyes put together a big third inning against her, amassing four runs on six hits and jumping out to the early lead.
Junior pitcher Lori Pankratz took over for Campbell in the third, and after getting the last two outs of the inning, Iowa got the better of her as well. The Hawkeyes' hitters clicked for the next three innings compiling seven hits and five runs.
The 'Winds' only run of the game came in the sixth inning when sophomore outfielder Collen Biebel was able to hit an infield single and wound up at third due to an Iowa error at first base.
Sophomore infielder Michelle Prieto drove Biebel in to score after she reached base on another Iowa error by the first baseman. However, Iowa quickly put a stop to the 'Winds' rally when they sent the next three batters down in order to end the inning and the 'Winds' chance of scoring again.
The weather and high winds were certainly a factor Wednesday, as both teams seemed to struggle with fly balls to the outfield.
"We have to be able to keep the ball in front of us in the outfield," Van Vlymen said. "We can't afford to give up two or three bases on a hit to the outfield."
Despite the loss, the 'Winds were able to dust it off and take something from the contest.
"The outcome was not what we wanted," Van Vlymen said. "But I am glad the team learned from the loss. The girls talked after the game on how to move on after the loss. They know exactly what they need to do to move on from here and they talked about communicating more and picking up the defense."
The 'Winds will travel to face conference foe Southern Utah this weekend in a three game series. They play a double header on Saturday with Game 1 set to begin at 1 p.m.
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