Walk-Off Propels Panthers, Completes Sweep of SFA

Saturday, February 27

Oxford, Miss.

11 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

10-4

Stephen F. Austin

4-9

Stephen F. Austin

UNI

Walk-Off Propels Panthers, Completes Sweep of SFA

2/27/2016 6:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Riley Ubben

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Northern Iowa softball team swept Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, defeating the Jacks 3-1 before taking game two via a four-run seventh inning and a Bailey Lange walk-off home run to take game two, 4-3.

Caitlin Wnek got UNI on the board in the Panthers' (11-4) opening offensive series, scoring Brittany Krodigner from third on a sacrifice fly to right field to put UNI ahead 1-0. Wnek's RBI gives her 12 for the year, ranking second on the team.

Chelsea Ross was effective in the circle early, striking out four batters in the first two innings while retiring eight straight SFA batters. Ross finished game one with eight strikeouts, allowing just two hits over seven innings of work.

The Jacks tied things up in the top of the fourth inning on a RBI single from Taylor Fraccastoro after Courtney Chambers was hit by a pitch to open the inning.

UNI answered back quickly in the following half inning, beginning with a leadoff single from Wnek. The senior shortstop later scored on some slick base running, scoring from third on a popup to the second basemen in shallow right field. Macey Wolfe drove in one more run on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to score Kristin Lock and put the Panthers ahead 3-1.

SFA took an early lead in game two, bringing two runs around to score on two hits and an error in the frame to grab a 2-0 advantage. The Jacks added one more in the sixth inning and threatened to add more until an Alyssa Buchanan strikeout ended the scoring opportunity.

The UNI offense showed some spark in the fourth and fifth innings after being held hit-less up to that point. The Panthers had back-to-back singles in each inning, but could not capitalize as they left two runners on in both innings.

The Panthers rallied for the victory in the bottom of the seventh inning, beginning with a Kennedy Bailey single to start the inning. UNI's first home run of the inning came from Buchanan as she sent one deep over the left field wall to cut the Jacks' lead down to one. Pinch hitting, Lange came up big for the Panthers as she sent the game-winning homer over the right field wall on the first pitch to give UNI a 4-3 walk-off win. Of her two hits so far this season, Lange has recorded two home runs and six RBIs.

UNI will wrap up play at the Ole Miss Classic tomorrow at either 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m., depending on the winner between UT-San Antonio and Ole Miss in the game being played later tonight.