CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – After getting cancelled on Friday, the Wichita State softball team dropped two games against Northern Iowa on Saturday, by scores of 9-7 and 5-1.
Katie Malone threw 1.1 innings in game one, but received the no-decision after giving up five runs, none of which were earned.
Jenni Brooks relieved Malone, throwing 4.2 innings and allowing four runs on six hits.
In the first inning, with one out, the Panthers got a runner on a double. After and error by the Shockers and a walk and a fielder's choice, Sammey Bunch hit a grand slam to give UNI a 5-0 lead.
In the third inning, after another error by the Shockers, the Panthers added another run to make it 6-0.
The Shockers added three runs in the fourth inning on four hits and two walks, with hits from
Asea Webber,
Ashley Johnson,
Mackenzie Wright and
Kelli Spring, to make the score, 6-3.
Kiersten Otte pinch-ran for
Madison Perrigan after a two-out walk, and later came around to score on a single from
Paige Luellen.
UNI extended the lead back to three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
In the top of the sixth, both Johnson and Adams reached on singles and score on a massive home run from
Macklin Hitz to tie the game at 7.
The Panthers then took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs on batters that reached on walks to win the game 9-7.
Brooks then started game after throwing in game one and only collected one out. Malone then entered and threw 3.2 innings before freshman
Bailey Klitzke entered for the final 2.0 innings.
Northern Iowa score one run in each of the first three innings, including a leadoff home run in the second inning.
In the fourth inning, the Panthers added two runs on three hits to push the lead to 5-0 and out of reach for the Shockers.
Wichita State was able to add one run in the sixth inning, but could not find a way to score anymore, losing game two, 5-1.
The Shockers are now 28-19 overall and 13-9 in MVC play. They will be in action again on Wednesday as they play Missouri in a doubleheader that was originally scheduled for earlier in the year.
