Feb. 15, 2008
Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn- The University of Northern Iowa softball team earned its fourth straight victory at the Metrodome Softball Classic, rolling to a 6-4 win over host Minnesota Friday night in Minneapolis, Minn.
Crystal Keiper (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Jefferson) torched a homerun sending two runners home, and putting the Panthers up 4-1.
Megan Machovec (DeWitt, Iowa/Central) drilled a triple to left field, sending Brittany Ruzicka (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Jefferson) and Jen Larsen (Moline, Ill./Moline) home and thus putting the Panthers up for good at 6-1.
Minnesota managed to put together a strong comeback in the top of the seventh, ripping off three runs, but it was too little to late for the Gophers as the Panther defense held strong for the 6-4 win.
Rachel Gerking (Spirit Lake, Iowa/Spirit Lake) went 3-for-2 at the plate, while registering an RBI. Keiper added three RBIs on the night, and Machovec added a pair of RBIs herself.
Ashley Lepley earned her fourth win of the season, allowing just six hits and no walks.
UNI improves to 7-1 on the season, while Minnesota drops to 5-4. The Panthers are off to their best start since the 2002 season when they also started 7-1.
The Panthers will wrap up play at the Metrodome Softball Classic tomorrow when they face in-state rival Iowa at 5:30 p.m.
