UNI Sets Program Home Run Record, Falls to MSU 9-8

Sunday, April 24

Cedar Falls, Iowa

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

34-14, 0

Missouri State

17-27, 0

Missouri State

UNI

UNI Sets Program Home Run Record, Falls to MSU 9-8

4/24/2016 2:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Riley Ubben

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa softball team could not complete their third straight comeback against Missouri State on Sunday afternoon, falling to the Bears 9-8 after winning the first two games of the series in comeback fashion. The Panthers (34-14, 13-6 MVC) set a new program record for most homeruns by a UNI team in a season as Caitlin Wnek hit the record-breaking 53^rd long ball in the third inning.

Alyssa Buchanan put the Panthers ahead early, driving in Bailey Lange on a two-out single to go up 1-0.

The Bears brought six runs across in the third inning, scoring three on two RBI base-hits before plating three more runs after a UNI error with two outs. After Wnek's record-breaking shot in the bottom half of the inning, MSU added two more to grab an 8-2 advantage.

UNI bounced back quickly to pull within reach in the fourth inning as they brought four runs in to score. Lange hit her seventh home run of the season in the inning to start the rally, driving in Samantha Olson for the first two of the inning. Buchanan recorded her second RBI of the day, this one on a single that scored Micalla Rettinger before Courtney Krodinger drove in a run to bring the score to 8-6.

The Panthers put together another productive inning at the plate in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game up at 8-8. Chelsea Ross and Wnek began the inning with back-to-back base hits to put two runners in scoring position. Kennedy Bailey came through to tie things up with a two RBI single to score a pinch-running Kate Kinnetz and Wnek.

MSU took advantage of a UNI error in the seventh as the leadoff runner reached safely before scoring to bring the final score to 9-8.

UNI looked to complete their third comeback of the weekend in their final at-bat as Rettinger was hit by a pitch before Wnek got intentionally walked to put two runners on with two outs, but could not push the game-tying run across the plate.

The Panthers will take a break from Missouri Valley Conference play on Tuesday when they travel to Omaha, Neb. to take on Nebraska-Omaha. First pitch between the Panthers and the Mavericks is scheduled for 4 p.m.