Panthers Rally From Behind Twice, Take Doubleheader with MSU

Saturday, April 23

Cedar Falls, Iowa

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

33-13, 0

Missouri State

16-26, 0

Missouri State

UNI

Panthers Rally From Behind Twice, Take Doubleheader with MSU

4/23/2016 5:18:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Riley Ubben

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa softball team blasted seven home runs in their doubleheader sweep of Missouri State on Saturday afternoon, rallying from behind in both contests to take game one 4-2 and game two 11-8. The Panthers (34-13, 13-5 MVC) tied the single-season team record for most home runs in a season with 52 in the sixth inning of game two, set by the 2009 and 2014 teams. The wins marked UNI's sixth and seventh straight victories, tying their longest winning streak of the season.

MSU opened the day with one-run innings in both the first and fifth frames, including a Kaitlin Beason solo home run that put the Bears up 2-0.

UNI rallied back on the strength of three home runs beginning with Anna Varriano's solo shot in the fifth inning to cut the MSU lead to one.

Chelsea Ross followed with a home run of her own in the sixth to tie the game at 2-2. Alyssa Buchanan's sixth home run of the season came two batters later, a two-run shot that scored Caitlin Wnek and put the Panthers ahead 4-2.

Game two started off as a pitcher's battle between UNI's Bailey Lange and MSU's Erin Struemph as both pitchers combined for one-hit allowed in the first three innings before both offenses hit their strides in the fourth inning.

MSU took a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth that was capped off by a Elena Gambill three-run home run.

UNI would answer back with two of their own in the bottom half of the inning as Wnek picked up the first Panther hit of the contest. Kennedy Bailey hit her seventh home run of the season to put two UNI runs on the board.

The Bears stretched their lead back to four in the fifth inning before the Panthers put eight on the board in the following half to take their first lead of the contest, 10-6.

The Panthers began their comeback after falling back down four runs with the help of two more long balls. Bailey Lange pulled UNI within two, hitting a two-run shot to center field for her sixth of the season. Courtney Krodinger brought one more into score after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. UNI took advantage of a Bear miscue with two outs as Alyssa Buchanan sent a fly ball to center field that was dropped by MSU's center fielder with three runners on, clearing the bases to put the Panthers up 10-6.

MSU's Beason hit her second home run of the day in the sixth inning to bring the score to 10-8. Ross entered the circle with two runners in scoring position, striking out back-to-back batters to keep the UNI lead at two. The senior would finish out the game in the circle, earning her second save of the year in the process.

Ross extended the UNI lead to three with the record-tying homer in the bottom half of the sixth, her 11^th of the season and 41^st RBI.

Buchanan earned two wins in the circle on the day, entering both games in relief to pick up her 14^th and 15^th wins of the season.

The start time for the series finale tomorrow between the Panthers and the Bears has been moved ahead to 11 a.m. tomorrow morning.