University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
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Kansas
Panthers Use 6-Run Outburst to Defeat Kansas, 9-6
3/8/2009 8:00:00 AM | Softball
LAWRENCE, Kan. - The University of Northern Iowa softball team used a six-run outburst in the second inning to propel the Panthers to a 9-6 victory over the host University of Kansas Jayhawks in the finale of the Jayhawk Classic.
UNI won its fifth consecutive game and improved to 14-4 overall this season. Kansas dropped to 9-14 overall.
UNI's Megan Machovec led off the game with a triple and then scored on Rachel Gerking's RBI single to left-center to give the Panthers an early 1-0 lead.
The host Jayhawks scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead back from the Panthers, 2-1.
However, UNI was able to blow the game open in the second by posting a six-spot on the scoreboard. Kelly Papesh began the rally with her team-leading sixth home run of the season. Jen Larsen singled through the right side to score Machovec and Kim Washholder to make it 4-2. Gerking singled up the middle to plate Lindsay Callanan for the Panthers' fifth run of the game. Morgan Paulson singled up the middle and Larsen raced across the plate to make it 6-2. Samantha Waters scored on an error for the final run of the inning.
Kansas scored a single run in the second to pull within 7-2. But UNI iced it away with two more runs in the top of the sixth. Callanan laced a leadoff triple to left-center and scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Paulson singled through the right side to score Gerking, who had reached after being hit by a pitch.
Kansas clawed closer in the seventh with a pair of runs, but starting pitcher Melissa Tillett thwarted the rally by striking out the final two batters of the game.
Tillett improved to 4-2 on the year with the win. She pitched a complete game and gave up nine hits, six runs (five earned), struck out five and walked no one in the victory.
Paulson led the Panther batters at the plate with three hits and an RBI. Machovec also laced three hits and scored a pair of runs.
UNI's next action will take place March 11 when the Panthers travel to take on the Missouri Tigers on March 11 at 3 p.m. in Columbia, Mo.
