Panthers Pick Up Pair of Weekend Wins

Saturday, September 16

Orland Park, Ill.

3:00 PM

University of Northern Iowa

Grand Valley State

Panthers Pick Up Pair of Weekend Wins

9/18/2006 8:00:00 AM | Softball

By: UNI Athletics Communications

Sept. 18, 2006

ORLAND PARK, Ill. - The University of Northern Iowa softball team kicked off its fall season with a pair of wins in the Chicagoland Fall Classic over the weekend, defeating Grand Valley State 11-1 and Kankakee Community College 3-0.

The Panthers also posted a 3-3 tie with perennial power DePaul before dropping a 4-0 loss to Valparaiso in their final contest of the weekend.

A pair of newcomers to the Panther squad helped power UNI to a win over Grand Valley State to open play Saturday, with Ashley Lepley (Albia, Iowa/Albia) and Sarah Bakey (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) holding the Lakers to a single run in a six-inning affair. Lepley tossed three innings of no-hit ball before being relieved by Bakey, who covered the final three innings.

The Panthers had no problems finding offense to support their pitchers, with another newcomer, Heather Tartar (Fairbury, Ill./Prairie Central), driving in three runs in a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Junior Stephanie Aguero (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine) drove in another pair of runs for the Panthers and scored twice, going 2-for-3. Lepley went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, while fellow freshman Jen Larson (Moline, Ill./Moline) also was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple. Junior Jamie Kelilng (Davenport, Iowa/West) also drove in a run, as did sophomore Kelly Papesh (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) and freshman Megan Machovec (DeWitt, Iowa/Central DeWitt). Freshman Whitney Link (Ankeny, Iowa/Des Moines East) scored three times for the Panthers.

UNI followed with a strong showing against DePaul, with Larsen allowing a single run on three hits over 4 1/3 innings in the circle. Kelling went 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of runs scored, while Aguero drove in two of the Panthers' runs to secure the tie.

The Panthers began Sunday with another strong pitching performance, as Bakey and Larsen combined for seven shutout innings against Kankakee Community College. Bakey tossed four innings and struck out six while allowing just a pair of hits to the Cavaliers. Larsen went three frames in the circle and surrendered just two this while striking out three.

Papesh led the way for the UNI lineup, going 2-for-2 with a double and two runs batted in, while Kelling drove in the Panthers' other run with an RBI triple.

Lepley and Larsen combined to allow only four runs on seven hits against Valparaiso, but the Panthers couldn't manage to tally a run and fell for the first time this fall. Aguero and senior Nikki Ferden (Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott) each posted a pair of hits for the Panthers.

UNI continues its exhibition slate this weekend with four games against in-state rivals in the Fall Iowa Classic in Ames, Iowa. The Panthers battle Iowa and the host Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday before a rematch with Iowa and a tilt against Missouri Valley Conference rival Drake on Sunday.