Panthers Split Pair of Games at Ole Miss Classic

Friday, February 26

Oxford, Miss.

11 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

9-3

UT-San Antonio

5-6

UNI

UTSA

Panthers Split Pair of Games at Ole Miss Classic

2/26/2016 5:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Riley Ubben

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Northern Iowa softball team split a pair of games at the Ole Miss Classic on Friday, defeating UT-San Antonio 7-1 before falling to host Ole Miss 5-0 in game two.

Alyssa Buchanan had a strong start for the Panthers (9-4) in the circle, striking out five batters in the opening two innings on the way to her fifth win of the season. Buchanan tossed all seven innings for UNI in the game, allowing no earned runs and just three hits.

Samantha Olson led off the top of the third inning with a walk before Brittany Krodinger followed with a walk. Chelsea Ross found the gap behind shortstop to load the bases for Caitlin Wnek with one out. Wnek came through for UNI with a RBI single to score Olson from third for the first run of the game. Kristin Lock tallied her fourth RBI of the year to put UNI ahead 2-0 on a sacrifice fly to deep right field.

The Panther offense woke back up in the top of the sixth inning, plating five runs to take a 7-1 lead. Pinch hitting for Olson, Brooke Craig tallied a two RBI single in her first collegiate bat for the first runs of the inning. Micalla Rettinger recorded her 10th RBI of the season with two outs later in the inning, before Wnek reached on a bases loaded error to plate another run. Lock grabbed another RBI, reaching first after being hit by a pitch for the final run of the game.

UNI's best scoring chance of the evening in game two came in the top of the second inning as the Panthers loaded the bases via two walks and a single from Macey Wolfe. Olson put one in play and forced a tough play from the Ole Miss third basemen, who tossed it to home to get out Kennedy Bailey in a bang-bang play at the plate for the final out of the inning.

Ole Miss scored the first run of the night in the bottom of the fourth on a single to right field to go up 1-0. Olson fired a strike into home but the runner was called safe on another close play. The Rebels added two in the fifth, scoring one earned and one unearned run before plating two in the sixth for the final score, 5-0.

The Panthers looked to rally in the top of the seventh as Bailey recorded a one-out single that was followed by a walk from Wolfe. Kate Kinnetz reached third base on a fielder's choice, but was stranded there to end the game.

UNI will continue play at the Ole Miss Classic tomorrow when they face Stephen F. Austin at 11 a.m. The Panthers will then play a seeded game at either 4 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.