University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Hall of Fame
Team, 1982 Softball
1982 Softball Team
- Induction:
- 2016
1982 Softball Team
The University of Northern Iowa softball team captured the second national title in program history in 1982. The Panthers won the AIAW Division II College World Series crown and posted a 35-15-1 overall record under the direction of then fourth-year head coach Meredith Bakley.
UNI advanced to the AIAW Division II College World Series by winning the AIAW Region 6 Championship with triumphs over Minnesota-Duluth (2-0),
Northwest Missouri State (4-0), Augustana (3-0) and St. Ambrose (13-1). UNI’s 13-1 win over St. Ambrose soothed the wound after the Panthers had lost to St. Ambrose in the third-place game of the IAIAW State Tournament, 2-1 (10 innings).
UNI earned the No. 4 seed for the AIAW Division II College World Series that took place May 20-23, in Sioux Falls, S.D.
UNI opened the College World Series with a 1-0 win over Eastern Illinois. UNI’s only run came in the fourth inning, when right fielder Jane Wagner doubled in pinch runner Betty Davis from second.
Later that same day, UNI took care of No. 1-seeded Northern Arizona, 6-2. Lauren Magee came up big for the Panthers against the Lumberjills by going 3-for-4 with two triples and two runs batted in.
In the semifinal contest, UNI escaped with a 1-0 victory over Southern Illinois Edwardsville when catcher Jerri Augustus hit a sacrifice fly to center that brought Betty Throndson home from third. SIU Edwardsville advanced back to the title game in the losers’ bracket to face the Panthers again.
UNI pitcher Jennifer Berger then pitched her fifth no-hitter of the season and the Panthers claimed a 5-0 victory over the Cougars for the national title. Wagner started the scoring with a solo homer in the second inning. The Panthers scored two more runs in the fourth with RBI singles from Throndson and Augustus. Wagner was walked in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and Linda Stone scored the fourth UNI run of the game. Throndson hit a sacrifice fly to score Magee to cap the 5-0 triumph. Berger went the distance in the title game and struck out eight while walking none.
In its eight games in AIAW championship play, UNI outscored its opposition, 35-3.
Berger set a school record with 216 strikeouts in 1982 – a record that still stands today. On the season, Berger went 17-5 and gave up only eight earned runs in 159 2/3 innings pitched for a miniscule 0.35 earned run average. Berger ranked ninth in the nation in earned run average.
Laurel Magee led the Panther hitters with a .319 batting average and a team-best 53 hits, which included eight triples. Marshelle Clark topped the squad in runs scored (35), stolen bases (10) and home runs (6). Jane Wagner led the squad with 12 doubles and 36 runs batted in. Wagner ranked third in the nation in doubles per game (0.24).
Bakley’s squad set single-season school records for wins (35), runs scored (238), hits (360), doubles (43), triples (25), home runs (21), RBI (201), stolen bases (74), walks (128).
1982 UNI Softball Roster
Jerri Augustus            C          Jefferson, Iowa
Jennifer Berger          P          Marengo, Iowa
Marshelle Clark          2B        Lake Mills, Iowa
Lori Cook                      P          Green Mountain, Iowa
Betty Davis                  UTIL    West Liberty, Iowa
Trish Eason                  P          Scranton, Iowa
Kathy Gross                 P          Spencer, Iowa
Laurel Magee             1B        Waterloo, Iowa
Melinda McCauley   OF       Adel, Iowa
Robyn Murken           C          Story City, Iowa
Laura Norenberg       OF       Adel, Iowa
Shellie Pfohl                1B        Dubuque, Iowa
Sherri Salsbury           3B        Norwalk, Iowa
Pamela Severin          Of        Nevada, Iowa
Beth Sloan                   3B        Corwith, Iowa
Linda Stone                 OF       Edgewood, Iowa
Betty Throndson       SS        New Hampton, Iowa
Jane Wagner               OF       Dubuque, Iowa
Jackie Winter              C          Waucoma, Iowa
Head Coach: Meredith Bakley
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The University of Northern Iowa softball team captured the second national title in program history in 1982. The Panthers won the AIAW Division II College World Series crown and posted a 35-15-1 overall record under the direction of then fourth-year head coach Meredith Bakley.
UNI advanced to the AIAW Division II College World Series by winning the AIAW Region 6 Championship with triumphs over Minnesota-Duluth (2-0),
Northwest Missouri State (4-0), Augustana (3-0) and St. Ambrose (13-1). UNI’s 13-1 win over St. Ambrose soothed the wound after the Panthers had lost to St. Ambrose in the third-place game of the IAIAW State Tournament, 2-1 (10 innings).
UNI earned the No. 4 seed for the AIAW Division II College World Series that took place May 20-23, in Sioux Falls, S.D.
UNI opened the College World Series with a 1-0 win over Eastern Illinois. UNI’s only run came in the fourth inning, when right fielder Jane Wagner doubled in pinch runner Betty Davis from second.
Later that same day, UNI took care of No. 1-seeded Northern Arizona, 6-2. Lauren Magee came up big for the Panthers against the Lumberjills by going 3-for-4 with two triples and two runs batted in.
In the semifinal contest, UNI escaped with a 1-0 victory over Southern Illinois Edwardsville when catcher Jerri Augustus hit a sacrifice fly to center that brought Betty Throndson home from third. SIU Edwardsville advanced back to the title game in the losers’ bracket to face the Panthers again.
UNI pitcher Jennifer Berger then pitched her fifth no-hitter of the season and the Panthers claimed a 5-0 victory over the Cougars for the national title. Wagner started the scoring with a solo homer in the second inning. The Panthers scored two more runs in the fourth with RBI singles from Throndson and Augustus. Wagner was walked in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and Linda Stone scored the fourth UNI run of the game. Throndson hit a sacrifice fly to score Magee to cap the 5-0 triumph. Berger went the distance in the title game and struck out eight while walking none.
In its eight games in AIAW championship play, UNI outscored its opposition, 35-3.
Berger set a school record with 216 strikeouts in 1982 – a record that still stands today. On the season, Berger went 17-5 and gave up only eight earned runs in 159 2/3 innings pitched for a miniscule 0.35 earned run average. Berger ranked ninth in the nation in earned run average.
Laurel Magee led the Panther hitters with a .319 batting average and a team-best 53 hits, which included eight triples. Marshelle Clark topped the squad in runs scored (35), stolen bases (10) and home runs (6). Jane Wagner led the squad with 12 doubles and 36 runs batted in. Wagner ranked third in the nation in doubles per game (0.24).
Bakley’s squad set single-season school records for wins (35), runs scored (238), hits (360), doubles (43), triples (25), home runs (21), RBI (201), stolen bases (74), walks (128).
1982 UNI Softball Roster
Jerri Augustus            C          Jefferson, Iowa
Jennifer Berger          P          Marengo, Iowa
Marshelle Clark          2B        Lake Mills, Iowa
Lori Cook                      P          Green Mountain, Iowa
Betty Davis                  UTIL    West Liberty, Iowa
Trish Eason                  P          Scranton, Iowa
Kathy Gross                 P          Spencer, Iowa
Laurel Magee             1B        Waterloo, Iowa
Melinda McCauley   OF       Adel, Iowa
Robyn Murken           C          Story City, Iowa
Laura Norenberg       OF       Adel, Iowa
Shellie Pfohl                1B        Dubuque, Iowa
Sherri Salsbury           3B        Norwalk, Iowa
Pamela Severin          Of        Nevada, Iowa
Beth Sloan                   3B        Corwith, Iowa
Linda Stone                 OF       Edgewood, Iowa
Betty Throndson       SS        New Hampton, Iowa
Jane Wagner               OF       Dubuque, Iowa
Jackie Winter              C          Waucoma, Iowa
Head Coach: Meredith Bakley
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