By Hawkeyesports.com

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa softball team took game three of the series against Maryland on Saturday in walk-off fashion (2-1).  

Senior Nia Carter continued her season-long tear as she went 3-for-4 and had the walk-off single in the seventh. She had half of the Hawkeye hits in the afternoon. Senior Breanna Vasquez picked up her 15th win in her 20th start of the season. She threw a complete game allowing one run on four hits and struck out three Terrapin hitters.

HOW IT HAPPENED  

Iowa’s defense was showing out early as Maryland got two runners on in the first two innings. An unconventional double play ended the threat in the first and sophomore Tatianna Roman had a diving grab to end the second and strand the runners.

The offense was limited for both teams throughout the entire game. The Terrapins got on the board in the sixth inning as a lead off walk came around to score to take the 1-0 lead. Carter led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and got to second after a Maryland error. The Hawkeyes were unable to capitalize as she was left stranded.

In the final frame, the Iowa fight was alive as junior Denali Loecker roped a one-out single to centerfield. Junior Brylee Klosterman followed that up with a walk as the Terrapins made a pitching change. The Hawkeyes had runners at first and third with two outs as freshman Anna Streff was able to beat out an infield single to even the contest. Carter stepped to the plate and drove the first pitch she saw to leftfield to score Klosterman and secure the win for Iowa.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH RENEE GILLISPIE

“We came out strong today and we were playing for ourselves. You could feel the energy within the dugout was a lot different than it was yesterday. Nia is the spark of this team, without her three-hit performance today we aren’t in a place to win that game. Bre continues to throw well and some how each outing she is able to get better.”

HEAR FROM THE STUDENT-ATHLETES

“We are focusing on taking it one game at a time, having that mindset is going to help us capitalize and win games. We have been playing solid softball recently and we need to keep doing that to stay on track and close out the season the way we want.” — Doster

“We had great pitching from Bre and solid defense throughout the whole game. Early on, we were getting solid contact and we just couldn’t get them to fall. Going into my last at-bat I knew what kind of pitches I was going to see because I saw the same pitcher yesterday. This team has a lot of heart and that showed in our play today. It was an exciting game to be a part of.” — Carter

NOTABLES

Iowa’s 27 wins are the most since 2013.

Carter’s 73 hits are tied for 16th in single-season history for Iowa.

This was Carter’s 10th three-hit game of the season.

UP NEXT

Iowa (27-17, 8-6) returns to action on Wednesday as they head to Macomb, Illinois, to face Western Illinois in a nonconference game. First pitch at McKee Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. (CT).

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