MIAMI, Fla. – Rookie Sophia Alvarez-Backus limited Iowa to just two hits in a 2-0 loss in the second round of the Panther Invitational on Friday afternoon.
 
The South Lancaster, Mass. native threw six innings, allowing one earned run on two hits with five walks and a strikeout as the Leopards' continued their second weekend of play.
 
Alvarez-Backus was forced to work out of a jam in the third inning. With runners on the corners and one out, she enticed Iowa into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
 
All of the game's scoring came in the bottom of the fifth. The Hawkeyes put lead-off batter Devin Simon on base via an error and she later scored on a fielder's choice. Another fielder's choice by Tory Bennett stretched the margin to 2-0.
 
The Leopards managed three hits in the game all on singles by Mary Grace O'Neill in the first, and sixth innings. O'Neill was Olivia Catalina (walk) were the Leopards' only baserunners on the afternoon, as Iowa pitcher Talia Tretton (4 Ks) collected the circle victory.
 
Lafayette returns to action with a pair of games on Saturday, facing Iowa at 3 p.m. and Florida International at 5:30 p.m.