PEORIA, Ill. -- Northern Iowa scored a total of seven unearned runs off Bradley pitching as the Panthers downed Bradley 11-2 and 3-1 in a Missouri Valley Conference softball doubleheader Wednesday in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Braves fell to 9-22 overall, 1-13 in Valley play.

UNI blew open the first game in the bottom of the second inning, scoring seven runs (two unearned) on five hits. Erin Strellner delivered the big blow in the frame with a one-out bases loaded single that scored a pair of Panther runs. Strellner eventually came around to score the final run of the inning as she helped Northern Iowa take a 7-0 lead.

Bradley got one run back in the top of the third inning. Junior Bethany Till drew a one-out walk and freshman Molly Bergeson followed with a bunt single. Freshman Trisha Kowalewski drove in her first run of the day with a double to left field that plated Till with the Braves first run. Northern Iowa pitcher Amanda Hess pitched her way out of the jam, however, recording the final two outs with two runners on base.

The Panthers added three runs in the third inning. Jen Sieleman had an RBI single to center field with two runners on. Strellner walked to load the bases and Tracy Davis drew a bases loaded walk to score Jamie Kelling with the second run of the inning. Sieleman eventually scored on a passed ball, pushing the UNI lead to 10-1 after three innings.

After UNI tacked on another unearned run in the bottom of the fourth to take an 11-1 lead, Bradley attempted a two-out rally in the top of the fifth inning. Bergeson had a two-out triple and Kowalewski knocked her in with a single to left field for her second RBI of the game. The Braves couldn't push another run across, however, as UNI took game one by the score of 11-2.

Bergeson and Kowalewski both went 2-for-3 in the game, collecting all four of the Braves hits in the contest. Junior pitcher Brittany Dehler took the loss, falling to 5-10 on the year. She struck one and walked four, while surrendering eight UNI hits.

Bradley grabbed its only lead of the day in the top of the third inning in the nightcap. Bergeson reached on an error with two outs and moved to second on a single by freshman Stephanie Ramsey. Senior Brittany Mynsberge hit a double to right field that scored Bergeson to give the Braves a 1-0 lead.

Northern Iowa hadn't advanced a runner past second base off Bradley pitcher Bergeson until the fifth inning. Melissa King led off the inning with a single down the left field line and Liz Adams reached base via a Bradley error, allowing King to move to third base and Adams to advance to second base. Bergeson got the next batter to pop out but Nikki Ferden grounded out to the right side of the infield with one out, allowing King to scored the unearned run. Kelling then followed with an infield single that plated Adams with the go-ahead run.

The Panthers added an insurance run in the sixth inning on an RBI double by King as Northern Iowa swept the doubleheader with a 3-1 win.

Bergeson fell to 1-5 on the season with the loss. She struck out two and walked one in five inning of work, while giving up four hits and two unearned runs.

Bradley returns to action Thursday when the Braves host Western Illinois in a single game at Laura Bradley Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.