Sycamores Drop Pair to UNI in Road Doubleheader
Indiana State softball was swept in their doubleheader against Northern Iowa on a chilly Sunday afternoon at the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex.
The Sycamores (22-25, 9-14) were plagued by errors in a 7-4 loss in game one while UNI (29-11, 20-1) slugged three home runs in game two to power past ISU 6-3 to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Game One
UNI got on the board first in game one of the day, scoring twice after a Sycamore fielding error extended the inning. Indiana State misplayed a ball in the second inning, allowing another Panther run to score which made it 3-0 after two.
Bella Peterson put Indiana State on the board with an RBI in the third as Abi Chipps scored from second on a fielder's choice to make it a 3-1 game.
Northern Iowa would get the run back in the fourth, going up 4-1 with a RBI single up the middle.
The Sycamores made things interesting in the fifth, pulling within a run after back-to-back solo shots from Bella Peterson and Tokarek. Peterson tied Isabella Henning for the team lead with her ninth home run this year while Tokarek recorded her sixth of the season.
MVC home run leader Emmy Wells gave the Panthers some insurance runs in the bottom half of the fifth with a three-run home run to right center which gave UNI a 7-3 lead.
Peterson would pick up another RBI in the seventh with a base hit down the left field line that scored Abi Chipps to make it 7-4. The Sycamores loaded the bases with two outs but UNI was able to escape and hold on for the victory.
Lexi Benko allowed four earned runs over six innings and falls to 11-14 on the season with the loss.
Indiana State finished with seven hits, getting multi-hit efforts from Peterson and Olivia Patton who had two hits apiece. The Sycamores finished with four errors defensively.
Game Two
The Panthers struck first again in game two, hitting a solo shot to right center to go up 1-0 after the opening frame.
Abi Chipps gave ISU its first lead of the day in the second, driving home Lexie Siwek and Danielle Henning with a single to center which put ISU up 2-1.
UNI tied the game in the third with a solo blast to right center for their third home run of the doubleheader.
With two outs in the fourth, UNI re-took the lead with a RBI double into the gap in right center which made it a 3-2 game in favor of the Panthers. Emmy Wells extended UNI's lead in the fifth inning with her second three-run homer of the day to take a 6-2 lead.
Lexie Siwek cut into the Panther lead in the sixth, driving in TeAnn Bringle with a single to left center.
UNI struck out the side in the seventh to close out the game, winning 6-3 to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Cassi Newbanks started for ISU and gave up three runs over three innings of work. She takes the loss and moves to 5-10 on the season. Hailey Griffin pitched the other three frames, giving up three runs.
Up Next
The Sycamores will host Loyola Chicago for a three-game series at Price Field beginning on May 7 with a doubleheader. The series will conclude regular season play with the MVC Tournament beginning on May 11 in Springfield, Mo.
For the latest information on Sycamore Softball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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