Box Score CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Bradley scored two runs in the top of the first inning of Tuesday's game at Northern Iowa, but managed just three hits in the final six frames as the Panthers rallied to top the Braves 9-2. Bradley fell to 15-25 overall and 5-12 in Missouri Valley Conference play with the loss.
Senior Janay Mitchell (Woodridge, Ill./Downers Grove South) extended her hit streak to eight games with a one-out single in the first inning and Bradley had runners at the corners after a stolen base and a single by junior Kate Singler (Witt, Ill./Nokomis/Heartland). Mitchell came around to score on an error and Singler later scored on a two-out double by junior Brittany Fairbairn (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East/Kankakee) to give Bradley a 2-0 lead.
The two runs would be the only scoring on the afternoon for the Braves as UNI scored nine unanswered runs to complete the regular-season series sweep of BU with a 9-2 victory.
UNI's Lindsay Callanan delivered the big hit in the bottom of the first inning, belting a two-run bases loaded single up the middle to tie the score at 2-2.
The Panthers (21-20 overall, 8-8 MVC) pushed three more runs across in the bottom of the second inning to take a 5-2 lead. Mackenzie Daigh had a run-scoring single Livi Abney ripped a two-run single to chase Bradley starter Katie Dennis (Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquite) from the game.
Jen Larsen went 4-for-4 on the day to lead UNI and delivered a run-scoring double in the bottom of the fourth inning to push the Panthers' advantage to 6-2.
A Bradley error and a passed ball helped lead to three unearned Northern Iowa runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as UNI took a 9-2 lead. Kim Wachholder drove in the first run of the frame with a sacrifice fly and another run scored on a single by Megan Machovec. Pinch runner Whitney Plein capped the scoring with a run when Machovec was caught in a rundown on a double steal attempt.
The Braves left a pair of runners on in both the fourth and fifth innings and stranded single runners in the sixth and seventh frames, but did not manage another run after the two-run first inning.
Dennis suffered the loss for the Braves, falling to 5-6 on the year as she gave up five runs and six hits in 1.2 innings. Mitchell led Bradley offensively, going 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Singler was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Melissa Tillet earned the victory in the circle for UNI, scattering five hits and two runs over 4.1 innings. Tillet improved to 5-12 on the season with the win. Jaye Hutcheson picked up her second save of the year, giving up just one hit in 2.2 scoreless innings in relief of Tillet.
Bradley returns to action Saturday when the Braves open a three-game series against preseason Valley favorite Creighton with a noon doubleheader. The first 250 fans at Saturday's game will receive a free t-shirt.
