DES MOINES, Iowa – The UNI Panthers defeated the Drake University softball team in a pair of games Tuesday night at Buel Field in Missouri Valley Conference action.
 
Drake (20-24, 3-14 MVC) dropped game one to UNI (25-15, 11-6 MVC) by a score of 3-0 before falling in the second game, 12-0.
 
In game one, both teams were scoreless moving into the third inning before UNI's leadoff batter singled followed by a fielder's choice. Another single for the Panthers followed by a walk, loaded the bases before a batter was hit by a pitch for the first run of the game. UNI finished out the inning with another run on a fielder's choice. UNI finished game one by adding another run in the seventh inning.
 
Junior Kailee Smith (Murrieta, Calif.) started game one and pitched seven innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Smith fell to 11-15 with the loss. Five different Bulldogs had one hit each in the opening game.
 
UNI opened game two taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning before adding single runs in the fourth and fifth inning. A seven-hit, sixth-inning opened up the game for the Panthers as they added nine runs to seal the victory.
 
Freshman Aryka Knoche (Little Canada, Minn.) started the second game in the circle and fell to 2-5 with the defeat. Knoche went 4.1 innings and gave up two runs on five hits and walked two batters. Freshman Abby Buie (Gardner, Kan.) pitched one inning of relief and allowed three runs on four hits with one walk.
 
Sophomore Taryn Pena (Columbia, Ill.) paced Drake's offense with two hits in the second game.
 
Drake will take to the road for a three-game series against Bradley on April 22 and 23. The Bulldogs will take on the Braves in a doubleheader on Saturday with the first game set for 1:30 p.m. before concluding the series Sunday with one game at 11 a.m.