Aces fall to second-seeded Panthers
NORMAL, Ill. – Just one day after earning their first Missouri Valley Conference Championship victory since 2013, the University of Evansville softball team fell short against the #2 seed Northern Iowa by a score of 12-3 at Marian Kneer Stadium.
After UNI took a 4-0 lead in the first inning, Marah Wood drilled a 3-run home run to left to get UE within one. Unfortunately, the Panthers added eight more runs to their tally to finish the game in five innings. Evansville notched four hits in the contest with Wood, Taylor Howe, Zoe Frossard and Niki Bode picking up one apiece.
UNI had a big start, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning including two scoring on a wild pitch. Despite the early deficit, the Purple Aces stormed back in the top half of the second. Hannah Hood led off with a walk while Taylor Howe had a 1-out single. With two outs, Marah Wood approached the plate and connected on a 3-run home run to left field to get the Aces within one.
It did not take long for the Panthers counter as three runs crossed the plate in the bottom half of the second, highlighted by a 2-run home run from Alexis Pupillo. A walk by Taylor Howe and infield single from pinch hitter Niki Bode saw UE look to cut into the deficit before three quick outs ended the threat and kept things at 7-3.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Panthers put the finishing touches on the game, adding five runs as they pulled away to take the 12-3 victory. Taylor Hogan paced the UNI offense with a 3-for-3 day with two RBI and a run while Madison Parks went 2-3 with two runs and an RBI.
Sydney Weatherford made the start on short just one day of rest while Megan Brenton recorded the final out of the game.
