Softball Struggles on Day 2 of Northern Colorado Tournament

Saturday, March 7

Greeley, CO

12 PM

University of Northern Iowa

6-13

University of Northern Colorado

7-15

Northern Iowa

Northern Colorado

Softball Struggles on Day 2 of Northern Colorado Tournament

3/7/2020 10:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 BOX SCORE 1 BOX SCORE 2

Greeley, Colo. --The UNI Panthers put together an admirable effort on Saturday, but ultimately came up short, losing to the Northern Colorado Bears by the score of 4-2 and to the Mavericks of Nebraska Omaha 3-1.

Game 1 | Northern Colorado 4, Northern Iowa 2
Senior Jaclyn Spencer (0-3) got the ball to start for UNI (6-13) and took the loss. The left-hander went three innings, giving up three runs, zero earned, on two hits, allowing no walks and striking out two. Freshman Samantha Heyer was a bright spot for the Panthers, coming out of the bullpen and throwing three innings, giving up one run on one hit, with one walk and one strikeout.

Offensively, the Panthers were led by senior Adara Opiola, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Senior Ashley Chesser put together a noteworthy effort as well, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.

The Panthers were trailing 3-0 in the fourth inning when they first put runs on the board. Opiola put UNI on the board with a two-out solo home run off freshman E. Caviness.

The Panthers deficit expanded to 4-1 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the seventh inning. UNI picked up a run on Chesser's two-out solo home run off of Caviness, which tightened the Bears lead to 4-2. The ballgame ended with that seventh inning rally falling short.

GAME NOTES
» UNI's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed one run across.
» UNI pitchers faced 25 Northern Colorado hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and five fly balls while striking out three.
» Opiola led the Panthers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Northern Colorado was led offensively by freshman R. Caudillo, who went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
» Caviness led the Bears pitching staff, throwing seven innings of two-run ball.

Game 2 | Nebraska Omaha 3, Northern Iowa 1

Sophomore Hannah Kelley (2-2) started and took the loss in the circle for UNI (6-14). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on seven hits.

At the plate, the Panthers were led by senior Sammey Bunch, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Senior Olivia Brooks put together a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 2-for-3.

Hannah Kelley also helped out for UNI, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double.

The Panthers put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the third inning. Bunch put UNI on the board with a two-out solo home run off freshman Kamryn Meyer. The Panthers were unable to hold the lead, as Omaha scored three times over the remaining four innings to grab the 3-1 win.

GAME NOTES
» UNI's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed one run across.
» UNI pitchers faced 29 Omaha hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and nine fly balls.
» Bunch led the Panthers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Omaha was led offensively by junior Alexa Sedlak, who went 1-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
» Meyer led the Mavericks pitching staff, throwing seven innings of one-run ball.

UP NEXT
Next up for UNI is a matchup on Sunday, March 8 at 12:00 p.m. CST against Utah Valley.