March 30, 2008

Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. - The University of Northern Iowa softball team fell 1-0 to Creighton in the last of the three-game series in Omaha, Neb. Sunday. Both teams combined to connect for just seven hits in the contest, while Creighton's Tara Oltman tossed four strikeouts.

 

UNI struggled at the plate early, registering the first hit in the top of the second. Rachel Gerking (Spirit Lake, Iowa/Spirit Lake) drilled a single to left field, but was left marooned as no Panthers could connect to send Gerking home.

 

With two outs, senior Stephanie Aguero (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine) connected for a single in the top of the third, Jen Larsen (Moline, Ill./Moline) then hit a ground out to first base, ending the Panthers hope to score.

 

Creighton put the first run on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Jessica Wakasugi connected for a single. Bailey Dawson then stroked an RBI single through the left side to give the Bluejays the 1-0 lead.

 

Gerking hit her second single of the day in the bottom of the sixth, but the Panthers were unable to convert and the score remained at 1-0 in favor of the Jays. Gerking lead the way for the Panthers at the plate, finishing the day two-for-two.

 

Ashley Lepley (Albia, Iowa/ Albia) took the loss for the Panthers, tossing her sixth complete-game of the season, while throwing two strikeouts and allowing just four hits in the contest.

 

UNI falls to 11-16 and 0-6 Missouri Valley Conference play, while Creighton improves to 25-10 and an unblemished 5-0 in MVC play. UNI will head to Lincoln, Neb. for a doubleheader Monday afternoon. The first game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.