University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Drake
Softball Big Four Classic: Panthers Edge Bulldogs, Fall to Cyclones
9/21/2008 8:00:00 AM | Softball
Sept. 21, 2008
Cedar Falls, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa softball team wrapped up play at the Big Four Classic today at the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex with a 7-6 victory over Drake and a 14-8 loss to Iowa State in exhibition play. The Panthers finished the weekend tournament 1-2.
UNI 7, Drake 6
In game one, the Panthers battled back from a 6-2 deficit to pick up a 7-6 victory over Missouri Valley Conference foe Drake. Jen Larsen threw all seven innings for the Panthers.
"Larsen did a fantastic job on the mound for us, and she battled all day for us out there," head coach Ryan Jacobs said. "Overall, we got a lot of people in, and we kept our composure the entire game."
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 2-0 in the top of the first inning, but Larsen launched a two-run home in the bottom of the first to tie the score at 2-2.
Drake's Erin Mollohan ripped a three-run homer in the second inning, capping off a four-run inning for the Bulldogs.
The Panthers responded in the third inning as sophomore Eranne Daugharthy hit a solo home run in the third inning to trim the Bulldog lead to 6-3.
Facing two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Panthers put together a four-run two out rally. Larsen scored the go ahead run on a wild pitch to give the Panthers its first lead of the contest and the last run score by either team in the contest.
Drake finished 29-25 last year and won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Iowa State 14, UNI 8
The Cyclones jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Panther senior Crystal Keiper belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.
The Cyclones added four more runs in the second inning and two in the third inning to build a 9-2 advantage. The Panthers clawed their way back in the fourth inning, trimming the Cyclone lead to 9-6.
The Panthers battled all the way back to trail 9-8 in the bottom of the fifth with runners in scoring position but were unable to score any runs.
The Cyclones responded with four runs in the sixth inning and added two more in the seventh for a 14-8 victory.
Daugharthy started the game on the mound for the Panthers. Daugharthy pitched two innings before junior Sarah Bakey came in to pitch four innings and redshirt freshman Melissa Tillett pitched the final inning.
The Panthers split with Iowa State last season in their two regular season contests. The Cyclones finished 29-29 last year.
"This was a good weekend for us," Jacobs said. "It was good to play against quality competition and to see us use these games as a measuring stick. Our kids showed a lot of fight, and we know we can score some runs."
The Panthers will host another exhibition contest against Iowa Central Community College on September 24 at home with the first pitch being thrown at 6 p.m. No score will be kept in this exhibition contest.
