University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Drake
Softball Tops Drake 3-2 in Eight
2/10/2005 7:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 10, 2005
PANTHERS TOP DRAKE 3-2 IN EIGHT
Minneapolis, MN - The University of Northern Iowa softball team kicked the tires on the 2005 spring season with an exhilarating eight-inning victory over in-state rival Drake. Junior arm Uju Ibekwe pitched brilliantly with an eight-inning, four-hit gem to give the Panthers their first win of the year, 3-2.
Play began with a four-inning stalemate with Ibekwe and rival hurler Jessica Hicks shutting down both offenses. The Panthers drew first blood in the bottom of the fifth when senior Tracy Davis tripled to right center and scored two batters later on an RBI single from freshman Jamie Kelling.
The Bulldogs countered in the sixth with two runs of their own to put the Panthers at a 2-1 disadvantage. UNI knotted the game at two in the bottom of the same frame when sophomore Nikki Ferden doubled to left and scored on an RBI single from senior and new cleanup hitter Erin Strellner.
UNI took down Drake in order in the top of the seventh, spurring the Bulldogs to pull Hicks in favor of Lisa Birocci. The move backfired as the Panthers loaded the bases in the seventh, but failed to plate the winning run, pushing the game to extras.
Ibekwe shut down the Bulldogs in the eighth and watched as her offense loaded the bases against Birocci for the second straight inning. However, this time the Panthers would not be denied. Davis knocked in Strellner with a fielder's choice to end the game and earn UNI its first win in 2005.
The UNI lineup was solid from top to bottom, with three Panthers posting crooked numbers in the hit column. Strellner led the offense, batting a perfect 3-3 while driving in, and scoring a run. Freshmen Stephanie Aguero and Kelling had two hits apiece with Kelling posting an RBI.
Ibekwe was brilliant in the circle, tossing eight innings of four-hit ball while striking out five and earning the victory.
UNI continues it's Metrodome Classic schedule with a matchup against Wisconsin-Green Bay, Friday at 2:00 p.m.
