Aces drop doubleheader to UNI
Series finale set for Sunday at noon
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Friday’s Missouri Valley Conference doubleheader saw Northern Iowa finish with a pair of victories over the University of Evansville softball team at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium.
Game 1 – UNI 7, UE 2
With the scored tied at 1-1, Northern Iowa scored six runs in the top of the fifth inning to pull away for a 7-2 win in Friday’s MVC opener.
After UNI left two runners on in the top of the first, the Aces had a scoring threat in the bottom of the frame before a baserunner got thrown out at the plate for the final out. Kate Ridgway pitched out of another jam in the top of the second with the Panthers leaving the bases loaded. In the top of the third, the Panthers finally broke through with the first run of the afternoon.
Evansville tied the score in the bottom of the 4th when Brooke Voss scored on a Panther error. She reached on a leadoff single before a pair of bunts sent her to third. Unfortunately, UNI erupted for six runs in the top of the fifth to retake the lead.
Abby Bode hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 5th but that would be the final as UNI took the game by a score of 7-2. Anna Wischnowski earned the win for the Panthers, throwing the full game with two runs, one earned, crossing the plate. Ridgway took the loss allowing seven runs, five earned, in 4 1/3 innings. Willsey and Eliza Piggott led UE with two hits apiece.
Game 2 – UNI 14, UE 13
Miriah Powell had a career-high four RBI while Taylor Howe added three as a furious comeback attempt fell short with UNI holding on for a 14-13 win.
Building off the momentum from taking the win in the opener, the Panthers hit a solo home run in the top half of the 1st inning. They added to it in the second with a grand slam to go up 5-0. They looked to add more with runners on second and third with one out before Sydney Weatherford came on in relief to record the final two outs.
Eliza Piggott belted her fifth home run of the season in the bottom of the second to cut into the deficit. Following a scoreless third frame, the Panthers pushed the lead to 7-1 on a 2-run home run.
Looking for a rally, the Aces put the first two runners on in the fourth as Piggott singled while Brooke Voss reached on a walk. Next up to the plate was Taylor Howe, who came through with a 3-run home to make it a 7-4 game. Despite the rally by UE, the Panthers plated two more runs in the fifth and threatened to add more, but Cassidy Gall recorded the final out as they stranded the bases loaded.
Evansville did not give up as they got two runs closer in the bottom of the fifth. A sac fly by Piggott and an RBI single from Miriah Powell cut the UNI lead to 9-6, however, just as fast as UE made its way back, Northern Iowa countered with three more runs. Powell struck again with a 3-run double in the bottom of the 6th as UE stormed back within three once again.
Down to its final three outs, the Aces staged one final rally. With one out, Morgan Adams hit a long ball to left to make it a 2-run game. Jess Willsey followed with a single before Piggott doubled down the right field line to put runners on second and third with one away. Brooke Voss hit a long sacrifice fly to right to bring UE within one but UNI picked up the final out to clinch the game.
Sunday’s series finale is set for a 12 p.m. first pitch.
