April 14, 2007
Box Score
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Wichita State pitcher Margo Pruis shut down the University of Northern Iowa softball team Saturday, as the Shockers took a 7-0 win in the opener of the teams' three-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Panther Park.
The Panther lineup struggled against Pruis from the start, as the right-hander held UNI (15-21, 2-7 MVC) to just three hits while racking up 11 strikeouts. The Wichita State lineup did not face the same struggles, however, as the Shockers (24-24, 10-6) tagged the UNI pitching staff for 10 hits and took advantage of a combined eight walks on their way to the victory.
Starting pitcher Jen Larsen (Moline, Ill./Moline) took the loss for Panthers and fell to 8-11 on the year, surrendering four runs to the Shockers in three innings of work in the circle. Wichita State pushed another three runs across off reliever Ashley Lepley (Albia, Iowa/Albia), the reigning the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week.
Pruis improved to 15-11 on the season by handcuffing the UNI lineup. The Panthers broke up Pruis' bid for a no-hitter when senior Mandy Kumamoto (Torrance, Calif./West) reached on a bunt single, but UNI was unable to bring any runs across and left nine runners on base for the game. The Shockers stranded a total of 10 runners, with thanks partially going to the pair of double plays turned by the Panthers.
Stephanie Aguero (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine) missed a three-run home run by a matter of inches in the first inning, as her drive to right field hooked just wide of the foul pole, and that was as close to scoring as the Panthers would come.
The Shockers put up their first run in the top of the second, with Kara L'Huillier scoring on a UNI error after driving a double to left-center field. The biggest blow then came in the third frame, with Britnee Barnett reaching on a single and Cynthia Verhulst following with a double to set up a three-run home run by Lisa Jones, who went 3-for-4 on the day.
Wichita State added another tally to its lead in the fifth, with Jones scoring on a controversial double down the first base line by Elissa Zaches to bring the Shockers' lead to 5-0.
A two-run double by Katie McGeeney in the top of the seventh inning provided the final margin of victory for the Shockers.
The Panthers and Shockers wrap up their weekend set with a doubleheader on Sunday at Panther Park. First pitch is set for noon, with the nightcap to follow at approximately 2 p.m.
