May 7, 2006
Box Score
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa softball team concluded its 2006 campaign Sunday, dropping a 2-0 decision to Evansville in the finale of a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Panther Park.
The Panthers got a solid effort from starter Uju Ibekwe, who allowed Evansville's pair of runs on just five hits over seven innings in the circle, but the Aces were able to ride Ashley Hobbs' one-hit pitching gem to the victory. Ibekwe, who -- along with fellow senior Rachael Rogers (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahert) -- played her final game as a Panther, struck out four batters while walking three, but saw her season record fall to 5-18.
Hobbs picked up her third win over the Panthers in as many games by striking out eight Panthers and allowing no walks. An infield single by Brittany Ruzicka (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Jefferson) in the sixth inning broke up Hobbs' run at a perfect game.
Evansville jumped out with a run in the first on a double by Brittany Herald, but Ibekwe found a groove and kept the Aces off the board until Amanda Ockomon managed to sneak a solo home run just inside the left field foul pole to provide the final margin in the fifth frame.
Sunday's was the season's final contest for both UNI and Evansville, as neither team qualified for the MVC's six-team postseason tournament. The Panthers finished the season with 12-38-1 record and a 2-21 mark in league play. Evansville wrapped up a 22-26 effort, including a 9-18 mark in the Valley.
NOTES
Rachael Rogers capped her UNI career Sunday by starting her 194th consecutive game. The two-time all-Missouri Valley Conference selection started her 51st game at shortstop this season and completed a four-year career in which she was never out of the starting lineup.
