Panthers Win Sixth Straight, Defeat Montana and MSU

Friday, February 19

Tempe, Ariz.

10 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

5-2

Montana

3-3

Montana

UNI

Panthers Win Sixth Straight, Defeat Montana and MSU

2/19/2016 8:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Riley Ubben

TEMPE, Ariz. – The University of Northern Iowa softball team earned their fifth and sixth straight wins on Friday, defeating Montana 7-1 before beating Michigan State 13-9 in a high scoring affair at the Littlewood Classic. The Panthers (6-2) have outscored their opponents by an average of just over seven runs per game during their winning streak.

Alyssa Buchanan tossed just over six innings worth of perfect softball, retiring 19 straight Grizzly batters to keep them off base and off the scoreboard. Buchanan got some help from her stingy Panther defense behind her, as they played error free softball while the junior pitcher struck out six batters on her way to her third win of the season. Buchanan's perfect game was broken up when she hit a Montana batter with one out in the bottom of the third before giving up her first hit the following at-bat.

Buchanan helped out both herself and her team at the plate as well, beginning in the fourth inning with a RBI single to put UNI up 2-0 after Kennedy Bailey drove in Chelsea Ross to break the scoreless tie.

In the bottom of the sixth, after Ross singled and the Panthers subsequently loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch and a pair of walks, Buchanan helped herself out in the circle once again. After seeing a potential home run fade just foul in her prior at bat, Buchanan hit a grand slam to left field to put UNI ahead 7-0 to give her five RBIs on the game.

UNI jumped out to an early lead in game two against Michigan State, scoring three runs in the top of the third after Courtney Krodinger scored on an error followed by a Ross two RBI single to put UNI up 3-0.

MSU would answer with three runs of their own in the following half inning to knot the score at 3-3.

Macey Wolfe led off the fourth inning with a double to left center field to move into scoring position with no outs. Courtney Krodinger recorded her second hit of the evening the following at-bat, tallying a RBI double to score Wolfe from second. Ross and Wnek followed with RBI at-bats of their own, giving UNI a 6-3 lead.

After the Spartans answered with one run in the bottom of the fourth, UNI responded with their biggest scoring output of the evening, scoring six runs to grab a 12-4 lead. Bailey Lange started the scoring frenzy with a grand slam to right field, her first home run as a Panther. Wnek followed with a two RBI single to cap off the inning.

MSU countered with four runs of their own later that inning to cut the Panther lead to four.

Kennedy Bailey extended the UNI lead in the top of the seventh, scoring Wnek to put the final score at 13-9.

Buchanan earned her second win of the day in game two, coming in at the start of the sixth inning, allowing no runs during two innings of work.

The Panthers will continue play at the Littlewood Classic tomorrow, beginning with a rematch against Michigan State at 3:45 p.m. local time before taking on tournament host Arizona State at 8:15 p.m.