University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Friday, March 11
Lawrence, Kan.
9 a.m.
University of Northern Iowa
16-6
8
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Nebraska-Omaha
8-14
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7
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UNI
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8
11
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Omaha
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2
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Panthers Shutout Omaha 8-0, Hold Off UMKC 8-6
3/11/2016 2:02:00 PM | Softball
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Northern Iowa softball team shutout Nebraska-Omaha 8-0 before holding off UMKC 8-6 in their opening day play at the Jayhawk Invitational. The Panther offense tallied double-digit hits in both contests, the ninth time they have done it this season and the sixth straight game with 10-plus.
The Panthers (17-6) had no trouble getting runners on base in the opening inning against Omaha, loading the bases with the help of back-to-back singles from Micalla Rettinger and Chelsea Ross. UNI could not push runs across but would capitalize on their second bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth.
Caitlin Wnek led-off the fourth inning with a double to left field, her team-leading sixth of the season, before scoring on a wild pitch for the first run of the morning. UNI got walks from Kennedy Bailey and Courtney Krodinger before Brooke Craig reached on a hit-by-pitch as a pinch hitter for the Panthers. Anna Varriano was hit-by-a-pitch as well the following at-bat, scoring pinch runner Samantha Nicholson to put the Panthers ahead 2-0.
Alyssa Buchanan held the Mavericks hit-less through their first 11 appearances at the plate before surrendering the first hit of the game with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Buchanan earned her Missouri Valley Conference best ninth win, allowing just two hits while walking two and striking out four.
The UNI offense heated up in the sixth inning, riding four straight two-out hits to four runs in the frame. Rettinger grabbed her second single of the game in the top of the sixth inning, driving in Courtney Krodinger from second base for the first run of the inning. Ross followed with a two RBI single for her 22nd and 23rd of the year before Wnek drove in a pinch running Kate Kinnetz from first to give UNI a 6-0 advantage.
Varriano grabbed her second and third RBI of the game in the seventh inning, pinch hitting once again and sending one down the right field line to help UNI grab an 8-0 lead.
UNI jumped on the board early and often in the second game against UMKC, plating five runs in the first on four hits. Wnek and Bailey grabbed RBIs in the inning, with Wnek's on a RBI single for the first run of the game before Bailey brought two home via a double. Bailey would later come across on an illegal pitch to put the Panthers up 5-0 early.
The Roos answered back with a run in the top of the second, but UNI would quickly rebuttal to extend their lead.
For the second straight inning, Samantha Olson hit a lead-off single before swiping second base and reaching third on a wild pitch. Rettinger drove in Olson on a RBI single, her second of the day to get the lead back to six runs. Macey Wolfe came through with a run-scoring single with two-down, bringing in Rettinger to put UNI up 7-1.
The Panthers added to their lead once again in the fourth inning thanks to a double from Wnek and single from Lock, who both recorded a multi-hit game. Wnek would later score on a throw down to second on a Lock stolen base.
UMKC had their most productive offensive inning of the game after UNI could not push across the game-ending run in the fifth with a 8-1 lead as the Roos brought five runs across on four hits and an error to bring the score to 8-6.
After Bailey Lange replaced Ross in the circle and walked two batters to open up the inning, Samantha Belz came in to earn the save. Belz had some help from her defense, who turned a double play with two runners on and no outs to help her get her first save of the year and secure the UNI win.
The Panthers will continue play at the Jayhawk Invitational tomorrow when they take on MVC foe Missouri State at 9 a.m. before wrapping up Saturday play against Kansas at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Buchanan, Alyssa (9-2)
L: Clanton (3-5)
Batting:
2B: Wnek, Caitlin 2
RBI: Rettinger, Micalla 1 ; Ross, Chelsea 2 ; Wnek, Caitlin 1 ; Varriano, Anna 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Olson, Samantha 1 ; Rettinger, Micalla 1 ; Kinnetz, Kate 1 ; Wnek, Caitlin 1 ; Bailey, Kennedy 1 ; Nicholson, Samantha 1 ; Krodinger, Courtney 2
CS: Krodinger, Courtney 1
HBP: Craig, Brooke 1 ; Varriano, Anna 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
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P/OF/1B
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OF
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