University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
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Kansas
UNI Softball Roars Back Past Kansas, 8-5
3/7/2009 7:00:00 AM | Softball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The UNI softball team scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning and came back from a five run deficit to earn an 8-5 win over Kansas this morning in their opener at the Jayhawk Classic.
Senior Kelly Papesh's three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning with two outs pushed the Panthers in front (8-5) for the first time all game. The home run was Papesh's third of the season and 14th of her career. Papesh finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate and a career high three RBIs.
The seventh inning rally started with freshman Lindsay Callanan's single to start the inning, followed by junior Megan Machovec being walked, and freshman Mackenzie Daigh's RBI double trimmed the Jayhawk lead to 5-2.
Larsen was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Panthers with no outs. Junior Rachel Gerking then grounded out into a fielder's choice as the Jayhawks gunned down Machovec at home. Senior Morgan Paulson's RBI groundout to second base scored Daigh to trim the margin down to 5-3.
Freshman Laura Turner walked with two outs and junior Sarah Bakey's two RBI single knotted up the score at 5-5 before the Papesh home run. The Panthers scored seven runs on five hits in the inning.
The Panthers improve 11-4 on the year, while the Jayhawks fall to 7-13. The Jayhawks scored five runs in the second and third innings and the Panthers did not push a run across the plate until the sixth inning..
Larsen pitched the first four innings allowing seven hits, five runs and struck out two batters before freshman Jaye Hutcheson pitched the final three innings allowing no runs and one hit. Hutcheson (1-0) stuck out three batters and earned her first win as a Panther. Jayhawk pitcher Sarah Vertelka pitched the first six innings of the game allowing six hits and three runs before Sarah Blair (0-3) took the loss for the Jayhawks after pitching the final inning and allowing three hits and three runs.
The Panthers finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of the sixth after Gerking's RBI single drove in Larsen. Gerking is second on the team with 13 RBI this season.
To start the game Machovec once again led off the game with a hit for the Panthers and is 11-for-15 in her first at-bats of games this year. The Panthers were unable to move Machovec around the bases though after three straight Panther outs.
Kansas jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after sophomore Allison Clark drilled a two-run home run off Larsen in the bottom of the second inning. The home run marked the first home run this season Larsen has given up.
The Jayhawks pushed another run across the plate after a sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 3-0 after two innings of play. The Jayhawks reeled off three hits and capitalized on one Panther error in the inning.
Kansas added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning after outfielder Liz Kocon's RBI single to center field and Allie Clark stole home to score the other run. Clark reached base after being hit by a pitch and advanced to third after the Clark single before stealing home.
The Panthers will return to action today at 4 p.m. against North Dakota State. The Panthers will play Kansas again tomorrow at 4 p.m.
Notes:
Meagan Machovec is 11-for-15 in leadoff at-bats this season.
Kelly Papesh hit her 14th career home run and had a career high 3 RBI.
Freshman Jaye Hutcheson earned her first win as a Panther after pitching the final three innings.
This marked the first time in her nine appearances pitching this season Larsen has surrendered over three runs, and was also the first time this season she did not pitch a complete game in a game she has started.
The Panthers are 1-2 on the road this year.
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