By: Stephen Wagner

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – After two down-to-the-wire finishes last night, Green Bay softball (2-3) took on Iowa (3-2) this afternoon for its final game of the UNI Dome Classic. The Hawkeyes were too much for the Phoenix to handle, as Iowa took the 6-0 decision.

Iowa 6, Green Bay 0

Iowa jumped out to an early lead in the game, scoring three runs in the first and second inning combined. Green Bay was unable to match the Hawkeyes, as Shayla Starkenburg was fierce on the mound for Iowa. The Phoenix was able to load the bases on two separate occasions, but it could not turn baserunners into runs, stranding 10 on the day.

Starkenburg was dealing on the mound, giving up zero hits through the first six innings. However, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Hailee Frey (Marshall, Wis.) stepped up to the plate for the Phoenix and singled to left for Green Bay's first hit of the day, ending the near no-hitter. The next at-bat went to Hailey Mohrfeld (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), with Mohrfeld following suit and getting a single of her own to the left side. Things got interesting when Katelyn Huemmer (Sun Prairie, Wis.) managed to draw the walk and load the bases for Green Bay. However, Starkenburg thwarted the comeback attempt by getting Jaclyn Delagrange (New Haven, Ind.) to ground out for the final out of the game, sealing the 6-0 victory for Iowa.

Briana Cavin (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) received the loss for Green Bay after the early start for the Hawkeyes. Cavin gave up four hits, three runs and tallied one strikeout in her 1.1 innings on the mound. Heather Sanderson (Rapid River, Mich.) came on in relief of Cavin, giving up six hits, three runs and garnering five strikeouts in her 4.2 innings of work. Hailey McDermott (Bark River, Mich.) pitched the final inning for the Phoenix, accumulating one strikeout and pitching a hitless inning.

"This weekend was a good starting point for Phoenix Softball,” head coach Beth Spoehr said. “It was exciting to see the possibilities of what we are capable of. I know the team is hungry to get back to work and continue to improve each day. I am proud of the teamwork and heart we showed."

Green Bay softball will not see in-game action for almost a month, when it travels to Cape Giradeau, Mo., on March 6 for four games, in as many days, at Southeast Missouri State. Green Bay will have matchups featuring host Southeast Missouri State, Western Illinois and Northern Kentucky.

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