The Iowa softball team has officially begun the 2012 season. And the Hawkeyes have split the four games of the new year in the Getterman Classic in Waco, Texas.
The season started with an offensive explosion and slowly turned into a power outage by Saturday evening.
Iowa began the tournament with an 11-0 win over Wichita State, then lost two straight to No. 7 Baylor (4-0) and Arkansas (10-2) before evening its record at 2-2 with a 1-0 win over UT-Arlington.
The Hawkeyes scored all 11 runs against the Shockers in the first three innings and rode a two-hitter from Chelsea Lyon in the win.
Lyon pitched all five innings and struck out one. Ashley Akers and Katie Keim each had two hits and two runs in the game to lead the offense. Designated hitter Kayla Massey added two RBIs in the victory.
"I was pleased with how we came out and attacked them in the first inning," Iowa head coach Marla Looper said. "We talked about getting three outs, coming back in and scoring early. We did a nice job putting five on the board."
Against No. 7 Baylor, Massey held her own in the circle against All-American Whitney Canion. Each pitcher went nine up and nine down in the first three innings, but Baylor got on the board with a single run in the fourth and then added three more in the third.
“Baylor is a very good ball club,” Looper said. “You credit them and you credit their pitcher -- Whitney Canion -- she’s one of the best in the country.”
Massey finished with one earned run and four strikeouts in seven innings. Canion allowed just one hit and struck out 12. She allowed just three baserunners in the win.
“Kayla threw a great game,” Looper said. “She went in with a game plan of keeping the ball down and keeping it off the plate. When you go up, keep it away from the belt. She did a phenomenal job.”
The Hawkeyes had ample chances to get out in front of Arkansas early but failed to score with the bases loaded twice in the first inning.
The Razorbacks took advantage with a solo homer in their half of the first inning and never looked back in the five-inning win.
Lyon got just two outs in the circle in the game and allowed eight runs on six hits. Massey pitched in relief and alowed just one run on one hit in three and one-third innings.
Megan Blank led the offense with three hits and an RBI, while Akers was 2-for-3.
Against UT-Arlington, Massey was brilliant in the circle. She allowed just one hit in seven innings while striking out three and walking two. She did not allow a runner past second base.
"Kayla did a nice job," Looper said. "Our defense was behind her, and we had some key plays behind her. The whole time she was making adjustments. She wasn't as sharp as she was yesterday, but the best part about good pitchers is they're going to make adjusts to get what they need."
Blank again led the offense with two hits. She singled in the sixth and then went to second on a sacrifice bunt. She then stole third base and eventually scored on an errant throw. Blank was 5-for-6 in the last two games at the tournament.
"It was nice that last inning to be able to steal third," Looper said. "Fortunately, they bit on the play -- no one ended up covering on the play -- and the ball went into left field. Megan as heady enough to get home and score.
"Sometimes you that one-run game. I know the fans like the nine, 10, 11-run games. I don't mind the one-run games because it makes you feel lke you really worked for it."
Iowa will play one more game in the Getterman Classic as it takes on Belmont at 9 a.m. Sunday.
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