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Panther softball holds off furious Hawkeye rally
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The Northern Iowa softball team jumped out to a 9-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning on Wednesday.
They needed every bit of that cushion.
A furious Iowa rally came up one run short, and UNI took home a 9-8 win at a rainy Pearl Field.
Chelsea Ross hit a first-inning grand slam to put the Panthers up early. A second-inning home run by Nicole Fisher and a fifth-inning RBI from Kristin Lock helped UNI out to a lead that seemed insurmountable.
It was, but just barely.
Iowa's Megan Blank hit two home runs in an eight-run sixth inning for Iowa. Claire Fritsch drove in a pair of runs as well, and Brianna Luna and Alyssa Navarro each hit in one.
But Iowa couldn't score a run in the seventh to complete the comeback.
The Panthers' Jamie Fisher picked up the win on the mound.
Stephen Mally photos/The Gazette Northern Iowa's Chelsea Ross (26) is greeted by her teammates after hitting a grand slam in the first inning of last night's college softball game at Pearl Field in Iowa City. UNI jumped out to an early lead, then hung on for a 9-8 non-conference win.
UNI's Jamie Fisher delivers a pitch during last night's game.
UNI's Rikki Alcaraz (2) slides safely into third base, beating the tag of Iowa's Michelle Zoeller.
Iowa right fielder Haley Hansel (22) tracks down a hit during their game at Bob Pearl Field in Iowa City on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)
Iowa's Whitney Repole (8) beats a tag by Northern Iowa's Julia Hunter (10) as she steels second base during their game at Bob Pearl Field in Iowa City on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)
Iowa pitcher Kayla Massey (17) delivers to the plate during their game at Bob Pearl Field in Iowa City on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)
Iowa third baseman Michelle Zoeller (14) eyes a toss from pitcher Kayla Massey (17) for an out during their game at Bob Pearl Field in Iowa City on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)
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