University of Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
Panthers Take 2nd Round of MVC Tournament, 6-4
5/9/2013 1:00:00 AM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – The University of Northern Iowa softball team came out on top in round two of the Missouri Valley Conference Softball Tournament this evening taking down the Southern Illinois University Salukis, 6-4.
UNI (24-24) jumped out to a three-run lead in the second inning. With bases loaded, Nicole Fisher connected on a bases clearing double up the middle.
Southern Illinois battled back in the fourth retaking the lead, 4-3. With bases loaded, SIU right fielder Morgan Barchon gave SIU its first lead of the game with a grand slam over the right centerfield wall.
UNI's Julia Hunter answered back for the Panthers in the fourth tying the game at 4-4 with a solo homer over the left field wall. It was Hunter's fourth home run on the season.
Panther first baseman Gina Brown put UNI on top for good with a two-run home run to right field in the fifth inning. The homer was the sixth on the season for Brown.
Jamie Fisher earned her 19th win of the season as she went the distance and struck out six Salukis. Fisher walked a season-high eight batters but was able to tally her 59th career victory as a Panther. With her next win, Fisher will tie Sarah O'Byrne's school record of 60 career pitching victories. O'Byrne pitched for UNI from 1987-90.
The Panthers win today marks the first victory in MVC Tournament play since May 9, 2002. On that day 11 years ago today, UNI tallied a 2-1 win over No. 1-seeded Illinois State.
The Panthers will take the field again tomorrow afternoon at 12:05 p.m. taking on the No. 1-seeded Creighton University Bluejays. UNI has played in three MVC championship games (1990, 1998 and 1999) and won its only title in 1990. UNI is 29-40 all-time in the MVC Tournament.
