It was a close couple of games this past weekend for the University of Northern Iowa’s women’s softball team as they took on  the Missouri State University Bears.

The games were held in Springfield, Mo., and the Panthers were ready to compete, finishing the three game series in the lead, 2-1.

Emma Olejniczak started the first match up for the Panthers, pitching four innings,  and allowing six hits, no walks and no runs scored. Erica Oler filled in for Olejniczak down the stretch sealing the win, 2-0. Ashley Chesser hit a home run in the match up and Kamryn Shaffer also scored in the top of the seventh.

Jaclyn Spencer pitched a complete game in the second contest, only allowing four hits and two walks, while striking out five batters.

Sammey Bunch and Olivia Brooks produced four of the eight hits for UNI, with Bunch hitting a two- run homer, driving in Brooks to give UNI a four-run lead in the sixth inning. After threatening with a late run, the Bears comeback hopes were ultimately stifled by UNI, winning the match up 6-3.

The Panthers’ starting pitcher was senior Brooke Craig, who  allowed only six hits and surrendered four walks against the Bears for four innings. Her pitching only could do so much, because the Panther offense was unable to score runs.

The offensive standout was Courtney Krodinger, as she was able to knock an RBI single to center field to allow Sammy Bunch to score. It was an easy score for Bunch, as she was standing on third base when the hit took place.

Chesser also flew out towards right field that would set up a score for Adara Opiola.

That was all the Panthers were able to do offensively, as the Bears scored three runs in the final innings of the game.

Oler gave up two runs in the sixth to tie the game, while Olejniczak gave up the game winning run for the Bears to win. Olejniczak is currently 5-4. As for the Bears, they were able to get 10 hits off of good contact.

The Panthers also fell to the Wisconsin Badgers in a double header Tuesday, March 26, 1-6 and 2-11.

UNI will take on the University of Evansville Purple Aces in a three-game series this Saturday and Sunday, March 30 and 31, in Cedar Falls.