WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The six-seed University of Iowa softball team fell to 11-seed Penn State, 6-2, on Wednesday afternoon at Bittinger Stadium in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Junior Jalen Adams (25-6) got the start and threw four and 1/3 innings allowing six runs on six hits and fanning two. Freshman Talia Tretton threw the final 2 2/3 allowing no runs on six hits. Redshirt junior Desiree Rivera picked up the only multi-hit game going 2-for-4 at the plate. Sophomores Soo-Jin Berry and Devin Simon each picked an RBI in the game.

How It Happened
Adams came out dominant and retired the Nittany Lions in order to start the game. Iowa had two base runners in the bottom of the inning but were unable to capitalize on the free passes. Penn State was first on the board in the top of the second on a two-run home run to center field. The Nittany Lions extended their lead, 3-0, in the third on a solo shot.

Rivera picked up the Hawkeyes first hit of the game with a two-out single in the third but Iowa was unable to get on the board. Iowa got on the board in the home half of the fourth. Berry started the inning with a walk and got into scoring position on a wild pitch. Simon put the Hawkeyes on the board with an RBI double to the left center gap.

Penn State answered back in the fifth adding runs on an two-RBI single and an RBI triple pushing its lead, 6-1. In the bottom of the inning Rivera laced a double to left center with one out. Berry cashed in for Iowa with an RBI single, cutting the Penn State lead to four.

The Nittany Lions threatened in sixth getting runners on the corners, but Rivera threw out her, conference leading, 15th base stealer of the season to end the inning.

Penn State loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh, but Tretton held strong in the circle and sat down the next three Nittany Lion hitters. In the final frame, Bennett reached on a single but that was it for Iowa as the game came to a close.

Iowa finished the game with two runs on five hits and left eight runners on. Penn State had six runs on 12 hits and left seven runners on base.