Panthers Down Redbirds on Senior Day, 2-1

Sunday, May 8

Cedar Falls, Iowa

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

38-18, 0

Illinois State

18-32, 0

Illinois State

UNI

Panthers Down Redbirds on Senior Day, 2-1

5/8/2016 2:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Riley Ubben

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern softball team needed a late run from a freshman on Sunday as they defeated Illinois State on Senior Day, 2-1. The Panthers (38-18, 16-10 MVC) earned the three-seed in next week's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament while tying the record for second-most wins in a season in program history with 38.

Chelsea Ross put the Panthers on the board early with a RBI double to left center to score Samantha Olson from first in the bottom half of the opening inning. In the circle, Ross (16-8) struck out nine while working her way out of some tough situations on the day. The senior has posted 519 career strikeouts and has 197 on the season.

In the third inning, Ross and the Panther defense left the bases loaded with a fielder's choice for the third out. The Redbirds kept the pressure on in the next inning, putting two runners on with no outs. The Panther defense responded with a double play that started with a groundball to Caitlin Wnek and went over to Kennedy Bailey at first before Anna Varriano tagged out the runner at the plate to keep ISU off the scoreboard.

The Redbirds would push the game-tying run across in the sixth inning as Shannon Felde drove in an unearned run.

UNI responded quickly to regain the lead in the sixth. Courtney Krodinger sent one to the wall in left field with one out, driving in Bailey Lange from first base to secure the 2-1 win.