CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Wichita State dropped of pair of games to Northern Iowa Saturday afternoon at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

GAME ONE: Northern Iowa 3, Wichita State 2

Starting pitcher Katie Armagost and Northern Iowa's Jamie Fisher went toe-to-toe in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Armagost threw her 13^th complete game of the season allowing one earned run and striking out six while reigning MVC Pitcher of the Year Fisher also went the distance allowing one earned run and striking out three Shockers.

Wichita State squandered an opportunity to put the first notch on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning putting runners on second and third with only one out when pinch runner Kacie Eich was cut down at home plate attempting to score on a passed ball. The inning ended two batters later with the game still scoreless.

After UNI's Samantha Olson reached with a leadoff bunt single in the bottom of the third, Julia Hunter followed with an RBI-double to the gap in left centerfield to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Armagost escaped a bases loaded one-out jam in the bottom of the fifth getting the Micalla Rettinger to line into an inning ending double play to Temple at second base. Temple was then able to throw behind the runner at first for the third out of the inning.

Ali Vandever tied the game 1-1 in the top of the sixth, lifting a two-out solo home run over the fence in left field.

The budding momentum was short lived for the Shockers.  In the bottom of the sixth Olsen drove an RBI single to right field. Haley Kreiner then scored from third advancing home on a WSU throw down to second base with Olsen stealing and narrowly beating the return throw from second base to put the Panthers up 3-1.

The Shockers made a last ditch comeback effort in the seventh inning with Brittany Fortner reaching on an error by the UNI shortstop followed by a single through the left side of the infield from Erin Carney. After Laura Vickers advanced the runners into scoring position with a groundout to shortstop, Megan McCracken grounded out to short to score Fortner from third and place Carney at third base. With Carney representing the game-tying run at third Fisher was able to strike out junior Molly Baker to end the game.

GAME TWO: Northern Iowa 7, Wichita State 1

In game two it was Fisher in the circle again for the Panthers, with a similar result. The junior threw her second complete game of the day allowing one earned run on five hits.

The Panthers loaded the bases in the first inning with no outs but came away with just a single run on a hit by pitch.

The Shockers were not as fortunate in the second inning as UNI tallied six runs to take a 7-0 lead punctuated by Haley Kriener's two-run home run to left field.

Wichita State notched its only run of the game in the fourth inning with back-to-back doubles by Brianne Bond and Brittany Fortner.

The three-game series concludes tomorrow at 12 p.m. before the Shockers return home Wed., April 17 playing host to rival Missouri State in the annual “Pink Game” doubleheader at Wilkins Stadium. Games begin at 4 p.m. and fans are encouraged to wear pink.

-WICHITA STATE-