Feb. 13, 2009
Box Score
Tempe, AZ --- Iowa got a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning when Caitlin McGrath lost a easy fly ball in the sun for a fluke triple, as the Hawkeyes, who are receiving votes in the latest NFCA Poll, were nearly shocked by the Idaho State Bengals 4-1. Freshman Cristin Martin pitched her first career complete game.
Martin, who entered the game with a 14.82 ERA, held the Hawkeyes to just six hits and three earned runs in seven innings. With the Bengals down 2-1 entering the seventh, Martin was looking to keep ISU in it for a shot at a run in the seventh, but she was outdone by mother nature. First, she hit pinch-hitter Missy Mazur with a pitch, and after a sacrifice, she got Chelsey Carmody to sky one fairly deep to right, but it was well inside the park. Unfortunately for ISU, the sun was right at its apex for left fielder Caitlin McGrath, and she lost the ball in the sun. By the time she recovered, Carmody had a run-scoring triple, and then she scored on an error by Jenn Martensen to make it 4-1.
Iowa scored in the first when Martin (0-3) hit Colleen McGlaughin who advanced on a wild pitch and then scored in a Katie Brown single to left. ISU tied it when Martensen connected for her third homerun of the season in the bottom of the second with one out. Iowa went back up in the third on a two-out homer by Brown, and the game stayed that way until the seventh.
Idaho State had a shot at tying the game in the sixth when Jessica Baca walked with one out, but pinch-runner Kaylie Neal-Jones couldn't advance.
For Martin, she allowed just six hits and walked one in the complete game, giving up four runs, three earned. Amanda Zust for Iowa went 5.1 innings, allowing three hits and a run, walking two and striking out three. Brittany Weil pitched a perfect 1.2 innings for the save.
Idaho State takes on Chattanooga and Kent State tomorrow in the third and fourth games of the Littlewood Classic.
NOTES: Martensen's three home runs in the teams' first seven games is already tied for fifth on the single-season list, and fifth on the career list as well ... Martin's ERA lowered by 6.53 runs ... ISU now has eight home runs in seven games after getting 13 all of last season in 34 games ... ISU is 8-for-8 this year in stolen bases ... Martensen and McGrath each ran their hitting streaks up to four games, but Megan Miller's five-game streak ended.
