Iowa drops series finale to #18 Oregon

Hawkeyes fall 6-2 in Sunday's matchup at Jane Sanders Stadium

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:08am by Ben Kaplan

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The University of Iowa softball team lost to No. 18 Oregon, 6-2, in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Jane Sanders Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks scored first and extended their lead with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Iowa answered with two runs in the fifth, but Oregon pulled away with three more runs in the sixth to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This loss drops Iowa's record to 0-3 in the series against the nationally ranked Ducks, highlighting the challenges the Hawkeyes face against top-tier opponents as they look to build momentum for the rest of the season.

The details

In the first inning, Oregon scored on a sacrifice fly to take an early lead. The Ducks then added two more runs on a one-out, two-run homer in the fourth. Iowa responded in the fifth, with Mariah Myers and Phoenyx Silva reaching base and McKenzie Leitgen driving in Myers with a single. Avery Jackson then hit a sacrifice fly to score Echo Mattiello and make it 3-2. But Oregon pulled away in the sixth, scoring three more runs on a triple, a throwing error, a fielder's choice, and a single.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 6, 2026.
  • Iowa and Oregon faced off in a three-game series, with this being the final game.

The players

Brianna Johnson

An Iowa player who went 3 for 3 with a run scored in the game.

Mariah Myers

An Iowa player who finished the weekend 3 for 9 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

Serayah Neiss

An Iowa pitcher who is one win away from 50 in her career.

Leah McAnally

An Iowa player who is eight RBIs shy of 100 in her career.

Oregon

The No. 18 ranked softball team that defeated Iowa in the series finale.

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What’s next

The Hawkeyes will return home on Wednesday to face Iowa State in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT.

The takeaway

This loss to a highly ranked opponent highlights the challenges Iowa faces as they look to build momentum and compete against top teams in the country. However, the Hawkeyes showed fight by answering Oregon's early lead, and they will have a chance to bounce back against their in-state rival Iowa State.