April 18, 2006

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa softball team bounced back from a 6-0 loss to South Dakota State in the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader with a 9-0 blanking of the Jackrabbits in the nightcap on the strength of a two-hit performance by Panther pitcher Uju Ibekwe.

 

Ibekwe (South Holland, Ill./Thornwood) tossed all five innings of the run-shortened contest, shutting out the Jacks on just a pair of hits while striking out three and walking five.  Even though she didn't need it, the Panthers backed Ibekwe (5-12) with plenty of offense in game two.

 

Four UNI players tallied two-hit games, led by Stephanie Aguero's 2-for-3 effort that included a two-RBI double and one of the four bunt singles the Panthers executed in the game.  Jamie Kelling (Davenport, Iowa/West), Nikki Ferden (Eldridge, Iowa/North Scott) and Rachael Rogers (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert) also recorded multiple hits for UNI.

 

Ferden started things for the Panthers in the first when she drew a walk and then swiped second, setting her up to score when Stefaney Shalla (Kalona, Iowa/Mid-Prairie) reached on a dropped fly ball.  Morgan Paulson (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge) also scored on the play after she had drawn a walk, giving UNI a 2-0 lead after an inning of play.

 

The Panthers really turned things on in the second frame, putting four more runs on the board.  The onslaught started with Rogers doubling to left-center and Kelling putting down a bunt single to move Rogers to third.  Kelling then stole second and, when the Jackrabbits' throw attempting to catch Kelling bounced into center field, Rogers crossed easily.  Ferden then drew her second walk and advanced to second on a bunt single by Aguero that loaded the bases by also moving Kelling to third.  Shalla then walked to push Kelling across, and pinch-hitter Kelly Papesh (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) followed with a double that plated Ferden and Aguero to give the Panthers' a 6-0 advantage.

 

With Ibekwe cruising in the circle, UNI added three more runs in the third.  Kelling walked and then charged into third on a single up the middle by Ferden, which allowed Aguero to plate two runs with a double to left-center.  Paulson, who again reached by drawing a walk, provided the Panthers' final run when she was pushed across by a bases-loaded walk issued to Dyann Peterson (Fort Dodge, Iowa/Fort Dodge).

 

While everything seemed to come together for the Panthers in game two, things didn't go nearly as smooth in the opener.  South Dakota State (18-23) broke the scoreless contest open in the fourth inning with a single run and then scored three times in the sixth and twice more in the seventh to put the game away. 

 

Kim Westendorf (11-13) earned the win for the Jacks by allowing no runs on two hits over four innings, while Monica Wright (Morrison, Ill./Morrison) took the loss for UNI.  Wright (6-16) struck out seven but issued five free passes and allowed seven hits.

 

The Panthers (11-29-1, 1-13 MVC) continue a busy week of competition on Thursday with a trip to Peoria, Ill., and a doubleheader with Missouri Valley Conference foe Bradley.  UNI then travels to Terre Haute, Ind., this weekend to take on Indiana State in a three-game weekend conference series.

 

 

NOTES

- Monica Wright matched her career high for strikeouts in a game with seven in the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader.  The freshman also punched out seven batters in UNI's tilt with Charleston Southern on Feb. 11.

 

- The nine runs put up in game two of Tuesday's twinbill represent the Panthers' third-highest scoring total of the season.  UNI tallied 12 runs in a win over Western Illinois (Feb. 25) and scored 10 against Lipscomb (March 11).