[College Sports News]

Sunnyvale, CA - The University of Iowa softball team dropped its two opening games of the National Invitational Softball Tournament (NIST) Friday. Iowa fell to No. 23 California, 4-1, and UC Riverside, 7-5... California took a 1-0 lead in the second inning off an RBI single by Carly Winger, but junior Emily Nichols tied the contest in the top of the third with her sixth home run of the season... The Golden Bears scored two runs in the bottom of the third for a 3-1 lead. California scored on a fielder's choice and an RBI single by Vernae Sevilla. California scored its final run in the fifth inning.

Hawkeyes Lose Two At NIST

[College Sports News]

Junior Emily Nichols hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning to help Iowa defeat San Jose State, 9-8 Sunday in the final day of the National Invitational Softball Tournament (NIST).

Iowa lead San Jose State, 7-1 after five innings, but the Spartans scored four runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

International tiebreaker rules were used, which place a runner on second base to start each extra frame. San Jose State, who was the visiting team, plated a run in the top of the eighth for an 8-7 lead. Iowa tied the contest in the bottom of the eighth when Nichols, who was placed on second to start the inning, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by sophomore Erin Riemersma.

Iowa was able to hold San Jose State without a run in the top of the 10th after neither team plated a run in the ninth. Ackerson started the bottom of the 10th on second base and moved to third on a San Jose State error off the bat of senior Mindy Heidgerken. Nichols followed with the game-winning single to right field.

Iowa Tallies Extra-Inning Win Over San Jose State