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April 5, 2006

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - A first inning home run by Jamie Kelling was not enough offense for the University of Northern Iowa softball team to fend off instate rival Iowa State Wednesday, as the Cyclones scored twice in the fifth inning to earn a 2-1 victory at Panther Park.

Kelling (Davenport, Iowa/West) provided UNI's only run with her solo shot over the left field fence in the opening frame, but starting pitcher Uju Ibekwe (South Holland, Ill./Thornwood) showed every intention of making the lead stick with her work in the circle. 

Ibekwe held Iowa State's lineup hitless through five innings, but the Cyclones managed two runs on a pair of hits in the sixth to snatch the 2-1 advantage that would become the final margin of victory.  Ashley Killeen broke up Ibekwe's no-hitter with a single to right field that advanced Whitney Perkins, who had drawn a leadoff walk, to second.  A wild pitch moved Perkins to third and Killeen to third, and Perkins then scored on a passed ball.  Katie Reichling followed with an RBI double to plate Killeen and chase Ibekwe out of the circle.

Freshman Monica Wright (Morrison, Ill./Morrison) shut the door on the Cyclones' threat by helping turn a wild pitch into a double play that put Killeen out at the plate and Beth Tharp out at second.  Wright allowed one hit over two innings in the circle and struck out a pair of Cyclone batters.

With the Panthers unable to muster any more offense over the final two innings, Ibekwe (4-10) was saddled with the pitching loss, while Iowa State starter Amie Ford (10-7) earned a complete-game victory by allowing a single run on four hits. 

Ibekwe did her part at the plate, as well, going 2-for-2 and drawing a walk.  Brittany Ruzicka (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Jefferson) also recorded a hit for UNI.

The Panthers (9-23-1 overall, 1-8 MVC) resume Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend, traveling to Wichita, Kan., for a three-game series against MVC preseason favorite Wichita State.