Panthers Fall 4-3 to Southern Illinois

Saturday, March 15

Carbondale, Ill.

12:00 PM

University of Northern Iowa

Southern Illinois

Panthers Fall 4-3 to Southern Illinois

3/15/2008 8:00:00 AM | Softball

By: UNI Athletics Communications

March 15, 2008

Box Score

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The University of Northern Iowa softball team fell 4-3 to Southern Illinois Saturday in its Missouri Valley Conference opener. Rainy weather conditions in Carbondale caused the Panthers to play just one of the two games scheduled; and pushed the game time back from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The Panthers registered seven hits to the Salukis five, but had trouble pushing runners across the plate as UNI marooned five runners in the contest.

Southern Illinois struck first when Katie Wagner hit a homerun in the bottom of the first to give the Salukis the 1-0 lead.

UNI put themselves on the board in the top of the third frame when Megan Machovec (DeWitt, Iowa/Central) hit a single, and was then sent home off a Stephanie Aguero (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine) double, knotting the score at 1-1.

The Salukis responded quickly in the bottom of the third, when Wagner hit her second homer of the day giving Southern Illinois the 2-1 lead.

The Panthers put two runs on the board in the top of the fifth when Aguero stroked her second double of the day. Jen Larsen (Moline, Ill./Moline) then hit an RBI single to give the Panthers the 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Southern Illinois opened the fifth with the third homer of the day, this time by Katie Schmidt. With the bases loaded Katie Wilson hit a sacrifice fly to left field that plated one run putting the Salukis up for good, 4-3.

Aguero and Machovec both finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate with Aguero stroking two doubles with two RBI. Machovec also registered a stolen base.

Southern Illinois's Danielle Glosson earned the win for the Salukis today, tossing seven strikeouts in just four-and -two-thirds innings.

Larsen took the loss for the Panthers, allowing just five hits and two walks in four innings.

UNI falls to 10-10 on the season while the Salukis improve to 13-11. The Panthers will finish the series with the Salukis playing two games Sunday, beginning at 12 p.m.