University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
North Dakota State
Panthers Split Twin Bill with North Dakota State
3/30/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
March 30, 2009
Game One Final Stats | Game Two Final Stats
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The UNI softball team split a twin bill with North Dakota State at the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex today playing in brutal wind conditions. The Panthers earned a 4-2 win over the Bison in the first game and fell 12-2 in five innings in the second game. The Panthers are 21-9 on the season, while the Bison have a 17-12 record.
Game One: UNI 4, NDSU 2
Junior Brittney Balduf each blasted home runs to left field to lead the Panthers to a 4-2 victory over North Dakota State in game one of the doubleheader. Junior Jen Larsen (11-4) took the win for the Panthers in the pitching circle after tossing a complete game. Larsen allowed one earned run in her outing and eight hits. Bison pitcher Andi Padilla (12-6) took the loss after pitching a complete game four-hitter.
The Panthers got themselves out of a jam in the top of the first inning after the Bison placed runners on first and third with one out. However, Bison catcher Kelly Cantrell's lineout double play to Panther first baseman Morgan Paulson allowed the Panthers to get out of the inning with no damage done on the scoreboard.
The Panthers looked poised to score the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning after senior Kelly Papesh laced a double down the left field line, but Balduf was unable to score from first as she was gunned down at home to end the inning.
North Dakota State pushed the first run of the game across the plate after Cantrell was walked on a full count to take an early 1-0 lead in the contest. The Bison loaded the bases with no outs after two singles and a walk but were only able to put one run on the scoreboard.
The Panthers went in front for good after Gerking's two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning gave the Panthers their first lead of the contest, 2-1. Gerking used a strong wind blowing out towards left field to slam her fifth home run of the season and eighth of her Panther career.
The Panthers added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning after freshman Mackenzie Daigh's RBI single to center field extended the Panther lead to 3-1.
North Dakota State cut the Panther lead to 3-2 after Taylor Mortensen's RBI bloop single to left field in the top of the sixth inning, but the Panthers responded with another home run in the top of the sixth inning after Balduf's home run to left field. The homer, her fifth of the season, pushed the Panthers back in front by the final margin, 4-2.
Game Two: NDSU 12, UNI 2 (5 innings)
The Bison scored a run in every inning except the final inning of the game to earn a 12-2 win over the Panthers in five innings. Kim Westendorf earned the win for the Bison after pitching a complete game five-hitter. Panther freshman Jaye Hutcheson (3-1) dropped her first career game as Panther after pitching 2 1/3 innings and allowing five earned runs and four hits.
After two quick outs to start the first inning the Bison scored three runs all on wild pitches to jump out to an early 3-0 lead.
The Panthers responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning to cut the Bison lead down to one run, 3-2, the closest the Panthers would be all game. Jen Larsen's RBI single drove in UNI's first run of the game, and freshman Mackenzie Daigh stole home after a double steal was put on by the Panthers.
The Bison added another run in the top of the second inning after a groundout RBI by Laurel Pipkin to push their lead to 4-2.
North Dakota State continued to score runs in the top of the third inning as they extended their lead to 9-2 after Taylor Mortensen's three-run shot to left field. The Bison scored five runs on five hits in the inning.
The Bison continued to stay hot at the plate and scored three more runs on two hits in the top of the fourth inning to gain a 12-2 advantage over the Panthers.
The Panthers will be back in action at the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex on Wednesday, April 1, when they host Missouri Valley Conference foe Bradley. The first game of the doubleheader against the Braves is set for 2 p.m.
