April 23, 2008
Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa softball team scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little too late and No. 25 Iowa snuck past the Panthers for with a 5-4 win.
Iowa put the first run on the board in the bottom of the first when Colleen McGlaughlin hit an RBI single. Iowa added to its lead in the third frame, this time off an Erin Riemersma RBI single.
UNI was able to tie the score at 2-2 in the top of the sixth, aided by a Megan Machovec's (DeWitt, Iowa/DeWitt) triple. Ashley Lepley (Albia, Iowa/Albia) led off the inning with a single to right field and advanced to second on the throw. Machovec then connected for her fourth triple of the season, sending Lepley home. Stephanie Aguero (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine) followed with an RBI single to center field, tying the score at 2-2.
Iowa responded in the bottom of the sixth, plating three runs off four hits. UNI rallied in the top of the seventh, but it was too little too late, and the Hawkeyes held on for the 5-4 win. Morgan Paulson (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) opened with a single to second base. Sarah Bakey (West Des Moines, Iowa/ Valley) singled to the shortstop and Kelly Papesh (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) reached on a Hawkeye error. With the bases loaded, Lepley drilled a two-RBI single to third base. Iowa made a pitching change, which worked in its favor, as relief pitcher Brittany Weil struck out consecutive batters. Jen Larsen (Moline,Ill./Moline) then hit a foul ball to right field that ended the Panthers seventh inning rally.
Lepley took the loss for the Panthers, tossing five strikeouts in six innings of work. Lepley had a solid game at the plate for the Panthers also, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored.
UNI (18-24) will make its final road trip of the regular season this weekend, traveling to Wichita State for a three-game series with the Shockers. The first game of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at noon.
