The Iowa softball team saw its stay in the Big Ten Tournament come to an end in the first round.
The 6-seeded Hawkeyes (35-18) dropped their tournament-opening matchup on May 7 to the 11-seed Penn State (25-26), in a 6-2 contest.
The Nittany Lions didn’t waste much time, opening the scoring in the second inning thanks to a two-run home run from Michela Barbanente. Penn State added to that lead in the third when infielder Megan Ricks hit a solo shot to make it 3-0.
Iowa battled back in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore outfielder Devin Simon doubled to left center to bring in Soo-Jin Berry, but that was all the Hawkeyes could muster in the frame.
In the fifth, Penn State answered back with three runs to make it 6-1 thanks to a two-RBI single from Brooke Klosowicz and an RBI triple from Barbanente. Iowa was able to claw back one run with an RBI single from Berry that brought home freshman outfielder Arlette Caravaca, but entered the sixth facing a four-run deficit.
Iowa was not able to cross the plate for the remainder of the game, dropping the contest and getting eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament.
Junior right-hander Jalen Adams started for the Hawkeyes in the circle, tossing 4.1 innings, allowing six hits, six earned runs and striking out two batters. Talia Tretton relieved Adams in the fifth and tossed the final 2.2 frames. She allowed six hits, no runs and struck out one hitter.
With the loss, the Hawkeyes will have to wait a few more days to find out if their season will continue. The NCAA softball selection show will take place May 11 at 6 p.m. CT and can be seen on ESPN2.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa softball: Hawkeyes upset by Penn State in first round of Big Ten Tournament
Reporting by Will Kennedy, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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