March 26, 2008

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa softball team ended an eight-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over Iowa State in the second game of the Panthers doubleheader Wednesday. The Panthers fell 6-3 to the Cyclones in the first game after starting the contest with a 3-0 lead.

 

Game 1

 

UNI started the first contest with three quick outs on defense and then connected for three hits, including two runs, to finish the first frame.

 

Megan Machovec (DeWitt, Iowa/Central) started the bottom of the first with a single down the left line. Jen Larsen (Moline, Ill./Moline) then drove in a RBI double to center field. Rachel Gerking (Spirit Lake, Iowa/Spirit Lake) continued the strong hitting for the Panthers with an RBI single that gave the Panthers the early 2-0 lead.

 

Ashley Lepley (Albia, Iowa/Albia) connected for a single to start the bottom of the second inning and later scored off a Kelly Papesh (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) sacrifice fly to give the Panthers the 3-0 lead.

 

Iowa State registered their first hit of the game in the top of the third, when Courtney Wray hit a two-run home run to right field. The Cyclones drove in another run in the top of the fourth to knot the score at 3-3 heading into the fifth frame.

 

The Cyclones then used a three-run inning in the fifth to take the lead for good. UNI struggled to connect at the plate in the final five innings, registering just two hits and zero runs in the final frames.

 

Larsen was tagged for the loss, falling to 3-7 on the season. Iowa State's Charissa Carlin earned the win for the Cyclones, allowing just two hits in five innings.

 

Game 2

 

UNI found rhythm at the plate and in the circle in the second game, connecting for 11 hits, including two extra-base hits, while Lepley tossed seven strikeouts and allowed just one walk in the contest for the Panthers.

 

Iowa State struck first in the second game off and RBI single by Carrie Monroe. UNI responded in the bottom of the third when Stephanie Aguero (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine) hit a two-run homer to left center, thus giving the Panthers the 2-1 lead.

 

UNI sealed the win in the bottom of the fourth, driving in four runs off five hits. Michelle Phillips (Waukee, Iowa/Waukee) opened the frame with a single through the right side. Following a walk by Morgan Paulson (Fort Dodge, Iowa/ Fort Dodge), Stefaney Shalla (Kalona, Iowa/ Mid-Prairie) connected for a single, and both runners scored when Heather Tarter (Fairbury, Ill./Prairie Central) drilled a double to center field. Machovec then connected for the fourth hit of the inning, followed by another single by Aguero. Machovec tallied the final run for the Panthers by stealing home base.

 

Iowa State managed to put two runs on the board in the games final two innings, but the damage had been done and UNI came away with the 6-3 win.

With the win, the Panthers ended a three-game losing streak to the Cyclones that started last season when the Panthers fell 6-3 and 5-3 to Iowa State in Cedar Falls.

 

UNI will return to Missouri Valley Conference action this weekend with a three-game series against Creighton in Omaha, Neb. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m.