Panthers Top Ball State 1-0, UT-Martin 10-2

Sunday, March 2

Martin, Tenn.

10:00 AM

University of Northern Iowa

Ball State

Panthers Top Ball State 1-0, UT-Martin 10-2

3/2/2008 7:00:00 AM | Softball

By: UNI Athletics Communications

March 2, 2008

Ball State Box Score | UT-Martin Box Score

MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Northern Iowa softball team topped Ball State 1-0 and then UT-Martin 10-2 in the final day of the UT-Martin Hospitality House Classic.

Megan Machovec (DeWitt, Iowa/Central) registered the first hit of the game on a lead off triple in the top of the third. Machovec was caught stealing two plays later and the Panthers were unable to convert as the Cardinal defense held strong to keep the score knotted at 0-0.

The Panthers finally scored in the top of the fifth when Jen Larsen (Moline, Ill./Moline) hit a single to left field, sending Brittany Ruzicka (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Jefferson) home and putting the Panthers up 1-0.

Still in the fifth, with the bases loaded and two outs, Ashley Lepley (Albia, Iowa/Albia) was unable to connect and struck out swinging, thus ending the inning for the Panthers.

The Cardinals' Amanda Pick opened the next frame with a single down the left line and then stole second base, following a sacrifice bunt Pick was in place to score but Kam Holle struck out to end the Cardinals hope at putting a run on the board.

The Panthers were unable to get anything going offensively in the sixth and Ball State gave the Panthers a scare in the bottom of the sixth frame with runners on second and third, but the Panther defense was able to contain the Cardinals and kept the one-run lead going into the seventh.

Ball State put together an impressive comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh frame. Elizabeth Milian stroked a double to right field, and then Alyssa Collins hit a single to left field advancing Milian to third. Larsen struck out the next batter and then allowed a walk to load the bases for the Cardinals. With two outs and the game on the line, Larsen struck out Lisa Rozanski and sealed the win for the Panthers.

Both teams had numerous opportunities to score throughout the contest as both teams marooned seven runners. Ball State left runners in scoring positions in the games final three innings

Larsen was the difference maker in the contest, registering the only RBI of the game and tossing her third complete game this season.

vs. UT-Martin

The Panthers then turned around to take on host UT-Martin, and put up an impressive effort at the plate, registering 15 hits and 10 runs.

Jen Larsen then blasted her third home run of the season, torching one to center field and putting the Panthers up early 2-0.

Lepley opened up the top of the second with a solo home run to center field giving the Panthers a 3-0 lead.

Ashely Benbow, Ohio Valley Conference's freshman of the year in 2007, hit a single up the middle and then used her quickness to steal second base on the next play. Following another hit by the Skyhawks, a fielding error on the Panthers in the bottom of the third allowed UT-Martin's Ashley Benbow to sneak in the for the Skyhawks' first run of the game.

With two outs in the fourth frame, Machovec hit a single to center field, and Aguero followed with a single of her own advancing Machovec to third. With a full count, two runners on base and two outs, Larsen drilled her second home run of the game, again to center field, to give the Panthers the 6-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.

The Skyhawks threatened in the fourth frame as Savannah Roberts drove a single down the left line and then advanced to second on a passed ball; Paij Lintz then came in as a pinch runner for the Skyhawks and then scored off a single by Megan Williams. Lepley then helped secure a double play for the Panthers, catching a line drive and then tossing to Aguero to tag the runner at second and ending UT-Martin's scoring threat.

Keiper opened the fifth for the Panthers with a single, then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. With two outs and Keiper still in scoring position, Ruzicka hit a ground ball single to first base that sent Keiper home. Machovec then hit a single that popped just over the pitcher's head and left the bases the loaded with Aguero at bat. Aguero then stroked a two-run double down the right line to put the Panthers up 9-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth frame.

The Panthers continued their hot-hitting to start the sixth, as Rachel Gerking (Spirit Lake, Iowa/Spirit Lake) drove a single to left field and then Keiper followed with a double just inside the center field fence. Gerking then scored off a fly-out to left field by Brittany Balduf (Mason City, Iowa/Mason City) to put the Panthers up 10-2.

UNI improves to 9-5, and will return to action next weekend at the National Invite Softball Tournament in Hayward, Calif.