Hawkeyes Fall in Extra Innings to No. 18 Oregon

Iowa softball team drops heartbreaker to ranked Ducks in 8 innings

Apr. 5, 2026 at 3:35pm by Ben Kaplan

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The University of Iowa softball team fell to No. 18 Oregon, 14-13, in an extra-inning thriller on Saturday afternoon. The Hawkeyes rallied from an early deficit, scoring six runs in the 3rd inning and adding two-run frames in the 4th, 5th, and 6th to take a 13-9 lead. However, Oregon tied the game in the 7th and won it on a sacrifice fly in the 8th.

Why it matters

This was a tough loss for the Hawkeyes, who were looking to upset the ranked Ducks on the road. The game showcased Iowa's offensive firepower, with the team hitting five home runs, but they were ultimately unable to hold on to the late lead.

The details

Iowa fell behind 4-2 early, but exploded for a six-run 3rd inning to take a 7-4 lead. The Hawkeyes extended their advantage to 13-9 with two-run frames in the 4th, 5th and 6th innings, highlighted by back-to-back homers from Devin Simon and Avery Jackson. However, Oregon tied the game with four runs in the 7th and won it on a sacrifice fly in the 8th.

  • The Ducks struck first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the 1st.
  • Iowa answered in the 2nd when Leah McAnally hit a solo home run.
  • Oregon added two more runs in the bottom of the 2nd to make it 4-2.
  • Iowa scored six runs in the top of the 3rd to take a 7-4 lead.
  • The Hawkeyes added two-run innings in the 4th, 5th and 6th to extend their lead to 13-9.

The players

Leah McAnally

Iowa softball player who hit her sixth home run of the season in the 2nd inning.

Devin Simon

Iowa softball player who hit her first career multi-home run game, going deep twice for the Hawkeyes.

Avery Jackson

Iowa softball player who hit a two-run home run as part of back-to-back homers with Devin Simon in the 5th inning.

Mariah Myers

Iowa softball player who hit a two-run home run in the 6th inning to extend the Hawkeyes' lead.

Stacy May-Johnson

Head coach of the Iowa softball team, who praised her team's resilience and offensive performance despite the tough loss.

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What they’re saying

“I'm proud of the team. We hung with Oregon offensively, but we just let things get away from us. That's what it's been the last two weekends — we're close but not quite putting ourselves on the right side of things. We've seen a lot of resilience from this team, and I'm honestly not surprised to see them come out and perform the way they did offensively today.”

— Stacy May-Johnson, Head Coach

What’s next

The Hawkeyes will look to bounce back on Sunday when they face No. 18 Oregon again in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.

The takeaway

Despite the tough loss, this game showcased the Hawkeyes' offensive firepower and resilience. While they were unable to hold on to the late lead, the team's ability to rally and put up big innings against a ranked opponent is an encouraging sign for the rest of the season.