DeLand, Fla. - Iowa jumped out to an early lead in the first inning to take the championship 4-1 over Stetson in the Stetson Softball Tournament this afternoon at the Patricia Wilson Field.

Iowa got the ball rolling from the start when designated player Summer Downs singled followed by an RBI triple by Emily Nicols to score Downs.  Left fielder Colleen McGlaughlin brought home Nicols on an RBI double to center, to put the Hawkeye's in the lead 2-0 going into the bottom of the first inning.

The Hatters came close to taking over the contest in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded sophomore Leo Carreno came to the plate and hammered the ball to the pitcher, who threw home to tag the runner, the catcher then threw to first to make the double play.

In the third inning Iowa's Erin Riemersma stole home to put the Hawkeyes up 3-0 in the top of the third inning.

Stetson finally got on the board in the bottom of the third inning.  On a sacrifice fly junior Lindsay Wightman (Surrey, B.C) plated freshman Amy Joyce (Lake Mary, Fla.) to close in on the Hawkeyes 3-1.

The score would not change until the top of the sixth inning when the Hawkeyes made their final run after a controversial call in the outfield, when it was ruled that senior Sherrel Fountain dropped the ball.  The Hawkeye runner came in and put the score at 4-1 for the rest of the game.

Senior Heather Colding (Lakeland, Fla.) takes the loss and putting her record at 2-1 after this weekend.  Colding allowed six runs on four hits in six innings of work.

The Hatters are now 4-1 on the season.

Next up the Hatters will take on Albany in a double header beginning at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, February 21.