NORMAL, Ill. — The Iowa softball team defeated Illinois State 6-3 in their midweek matchup Tuesday at Marian Kneer Stadium.

Senior Tory Bennett got the Hawkeyes off to a quick start with a leadoff home run to left field. The scoring continued as junior Devin Simon and freshman McKenzie Leitgen reached base, setting the stage for redshirt sophomore Nailyn Marshall to hit a three-run homer.

The Hawkeyes (15-8 overall) added to its lead in the second inning. Sophomore Brianna Johnson singled to start the frame, and with one runner on, Bennett then hit her second home run of the game to extend the lead to 6-0.

Bennett, a former Fort Dodge all-stater, now has seven home runs this season. She’d hit one in her previous three years combined with Iowa.

Bennett is batting .373 with 17 RBI. She has scored 21 times and is slugging a team-best .806.

“We had a lot of hits and hit the ball really well,” UI head coach Stacy May-Johnson said. “Tory Bennett is a great player and knows what to do with a good game plan. She’s a strong, physical athlete, and it’s been really cool to see her take off.”

Iowa will next meet Illinois in a three-game weekend series on the road beginning this Friday.