Friday, May 12, 2017
NORMAL, Illinois – University of Northern Iowa senior Macey Wolfe nearly single-handedly put the Panthers into the title game by knocking in all six runs, including a three-run walk-off home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
UNI (33-18) scored a 6-4 win over Wichita State (32-20) to advance to the championship game of the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament held at Marian Kneer Stadium.
Wolfe went 2-for-3 with two home runs and six RBI. Wolfe leads the Panthers with 44 RBI this season.
The victory also holds special meaning for UNI head coach Ryan Jacobs who tallied his 300th career win.
UNI took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Brittney Krodinger led off with a double to right center. Krodinger moved to third on a groundout by Brittney Roby. Macey Wolfe followed with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Krodinger.
Wichita State drew even at 1-1 in the top of fourth with an unearned run. Kelli Spring led off with a bunt single to Buchanan and moved to second when Buchanan's throw went into the outfield. Madison Perrigan lasered a shot to third base that went off Alicia Crivaro's glove and into the Panther dugout allowing Spring to score and tie the game. Buchanan then worked her way out of the jam by inducing a ground out and a fielder's choice.
The Shockers took their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth after Jaclyn Spencer relieved Buchanan. Spencer retired her first two batters before issuing a walk to Mackenzie Wright. Wright stole second and then scored on a RBI single to center by Spring on a 2-2 pitch.
Wolfe blasted a two-run homer to left center with two outs in the fifth to give UNI a 3-2 lead. Courtney Krodinger reached with a leadoff walk in the fifth and moved to second on a bunt by her sister, Brittney. Courtney moved over to third on a groundout by Roby setting the stage for Wolfe's heroics.
The Shockers answered with their own two-run homer in the top of the sixth when shortstop Laurie Derrico went deep to give Wichita State a 4-3 lead.
UNI started its rally in the seventh when Courtney Krodinger reached out and poked a single to short right-center. Brittney Krodinger sacrificed her to second. Roby rifled a shot back to Wichita State pitcher Katie Malone, who fielded the ball and turned to get Krodinger at third. The throw was late and Krodinger reached third, while Roby was able to reach on the fielder's choice. Wolfe then launched the game-winner to deep left on an 0-1 count to give UNI the 6-4 victory.
Buchanan earned the win as she pitched five innings (the first four innings and the seventh inning). Buchanan improved to 14-2 on the year. Buchanan gave up three hits and one unearned run. Jaclyn Spencer pitched the fifth and sixth innings and gave up two hits, three runs (two earned).
UNI will take on the winner of the Illinois State-Southern Illinois game on Saturday at 1 p.m.