The Iowa Hawkeyes softball team began their road trip in Louisiana with a defeat against McNeese State, falling 11-4 on March 7, 2024. This loss marks Iowa’s second consecutive setback, bringing their season record to 10-5.
In a standout performance, junior Leah McAnally achieved a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate, including a double and two singles. Freshman McKenzie Leitgen contributed significantly with two RBIs, while sophomore shortstop Brianna Johnson also went 3-for-3, scoring a run and making three assists and a putout defensively.
On the pitching front, freshman Braylen Conlon took the loss, allowing five runs on four hits along with five walks over two innings. Avery Sapp pitched 2/3 of an inning, giving up one run on two hits, while Carly Brewer wrapped up the game with 3 1/3 innings, yielding five runs on seven hits. The Hawkeyes’ pitchers struggled with control, allowing a total of nine walks throughout the game and striking out just two Cowgirl batters.
McNeese State established an early advantage, scoring three runs in the first inning thanks to a three-run home run from sophomore Maddie Taylor, marking her fourth homer of the season. Iowa attempted to respond with a sacrifice fly from redshirt sophomore Nailyn Marshall, which brought in Kiara Sipe from third base. The Hawkeyes narrowed McNeese’s lead to one run in the third inning, but another three-run inning from the Cowgirls halted Iowa’s momentum. This inning featured RBI singles from Meiko Dominguez, Adirana Mireles, and Nyjah Fontenont.
The Hawkeyes showed resilience late in the game. In the sixth inning, Leitgen’s single drove in Devin Simon, and an error allowed her to score as well, reducing the deficit to three runs. However, McNeese State quickly responded by adding four runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning, effectively sealing Iowa’s fate.
Looking ahead, the Hawkeyes will remain in Louisiana to participate in the LSU Invitational throughout the weekend. Iowa’s schedule includes two games on Friday, March 8, starting with a matchup against Nicholls State at 11:00 a.m. Central Time. The team will also face Memphis and LSU during the tournament, providing them with further opportunities to rebound from this challenging start.
