UNI Takes Game One 9-0, Splits Doubleheader with BU

Saturday, April 9

Peoria, Ill.

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

26-11, 5-4

Bradley

12-19, 6-4

UNI

Bradley

UNI Takes Game One 9-0, Splits Doubleheader with BU

4/9/2016 4:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Riley Ubben

PEORIA, Ill. – The University of Northern Iowa softball team split a pair of games in their doubleheader with Bradley on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers (26-12, 5-5 MVC) tallied double-digit hits in both contests for the 13^th and 14^th games this season as they racked up 13 hits in a 9-0 game one win before falling in game two, 6-1. Seven different Panthers recorded a RBI in the game one win.

Bailey Lange tossed her second complete game in as many appearances in game one of the afternoon, striking out six batters on her way to holding the Braves scoreless for her first collegiate shutout. Lange was crucial in keeping BU off the board early, striking out back-to-back hitters with two in scoring position in the second inning of the scoreless game.

Kristin Lock drove in the first run of the afternoon in the top of the fourth as Courtney Krodinger scored from third on a Lock RBI double that flew over the left fielder for the Panthers second hit in the game.

Brittany Krodinger battled back from down 0-2 in the count with two runners in scoring position with two outs in the top of the sixth, coming through in a big way for the Panthers as she sent a two-RBI double down the line in left. Micalla Rettinger's second hit of the day would score Krodinger from second to give UNI a 4-0 advantage.

Lange helped herself out in the circle while extending the UNI lead to five in the top of the seventh on a solo-shot to straight away center field, her fourth of the season. The homerun would jumpstart the Panther offense in the inning as they went on to score five runs on seven hits in the frame. Back-to-back base hits from Courtney Krodinger and Kennedy Bailey put two in scoring position for Macey Wolfe, who recorded a two-RBI double to stretch the Panther lead to seven. Wolfe would score from third after being moved over on a Lock sacrifice bunt, crossing the plate on a bunt and RBI from Anna Varriano with one out. Caitlin Wnek added the final run of the game during her at-bat, scoring a pinch-running Nicholson to put UNI up 9-0.

In game two, Wnek opened the scoring in the first inning with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Brittany Krodinger. The Panthers would go on to load the bases with two outs, but were not able to push any more runs across as they left the inning with a 1-0 advantage.

Bradley took advantage of the Panthers leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, scoring two on a RBI double from Rachel Huggins with two down to take their first lead of the day, 2-1. They would add another run with two outs in the following inning along with another two-out run in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. BU's Kathryn Spenn added to the lead with a two-run homerun later in the inning.

UNI and BU will play the series-deciding game three at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow weather permitting.