Panthers Remain Perfect on Weekend with Wins Over MSU, KU

Saturday, March 12

Lawrence, Kan.

9 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

18-6

Missouri State

10-11

Missouri State

UNI

Panthers Remain Perfect on Weekend with Wins Over MSU, KU

3/12/2016 4:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Riley Ubben

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Northern Iowa softball team won their fifth straight game and fourth straight of the weekend on Saturday, defeating Missouri Valley Conference opponent Missouri State 4-2 before ending Kansas' seven game winning streak in game two, 4-2. The Panthers' (19-6) win over the Bears marked 14^th of the season on a neutral field, where UNI holds a 14-0 record.

MSU opened up the scoring in the first inning of the morning in part to a leadoff triple that would later score on a wild pitch from Alyssa Buchanan. Buchanan and the Panther defense recovered quickly, retiring the next 17 Bear hitters before the streak was broken on a hit batter in the sixth. The junior earned her tied-for-MVC-best 10^th win in the circle and leads the conference in earned run average and opposing batting average.

UNI answered back in the second, doing a little bit of everything to push one across to tie things at 1-1. Kristin Lock singled to leadoff the inning and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kennedy Bailey. Courtney Krodinger grabbed her first RBI of the day a batter later, sending the first pitch up the middle to score Lock. The freshman infielder came through for UNI once again in the fourth, scoring a pinch-running Samantha Nicholson from third on a sacrifice fly to center field for her eighth RBI of the season.

The Panthers padded their lead in the sixth inning when Buchanan and Courtney Krodinger scored on an obstruction by the Bears' shortstop during Anna Varriano's at-bat, bringing the score to 4-1.

MSU's Kaitlin Beason recorded just the second hit of the game for her team in the top of the seventh, a solo home run to cut the Panther lead to two.

Pitcher Chelsea Ross helped herself out in the batters' box to open the ballgame, grabbing a RBI single to score Samantha Olson in the first inning. In the circle, Ross tossed six innings while striking out three.

UNI extended their lead in the third inning, scoring three runs on three hits to grab a 4-0 advantage. Buchanan recorded a RBI single to score Caitlin Wnek for the first run of the inning. With the bases-loaded and one down, Courtney Krodinger walked to bring in Lock before Brittany Krodinger grounded out, but drove in Buchanan for the last run of the frame. Courtney Krodinger wrapped up play on Saturday with a perfect 4-4 showing at the plate and reached base six times in six credited at-bats.

The Jayhawks gradually began to shorten the gap in the sixth inning, scoring two runs on three hits to bring the score to 4-2 with the Panthers on top. They threatened to tie it up or take the lead in the bottom of the seventh before Bailey recorded a double play on a low line drive for the first and second outs of the inning. Buchanan, who was credited with her first save of the year, got the Jayhawks' cleanup hitter to pop out to secure the win.

UNI will wrap up the Jayhawk Invitational with an unblemished record tomorrow when they take on Western Illinois at 9 a.m.