CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- It was a rally cap kinda day at the UNI-Dome on Saturday as Indiana State rallied for three runs in the final two innings for the opening win and the Panthers paid back the favor by scoring five runs in the final two innings of the nightcap as the two teams split a doubleheader. The games were forced inside due to recent wintry weather in Iowa.

ISU now stands at 22-21 on the season, 9-9 in the Missouri Valley Conference with a hold on Top 4 positioning in the league race. Northern Iowa moved to 22-21 on the season and a 7-10 mark in league play. This doubleheader began an eight-game road trip and ISU has won six of their last seven games against the Panthers and extended their winning streak in Cedar Falls to four games before falling in the final game. 

The victory in the series opener gave ISU their ninth league victory which already surpasses their league win total from last season with seven games remaining on the schedule.

GAME 1 RECAP (Indiana State 4, Northern Iowa 2)

Northern Iowa loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the second inning when Brittney Roby singled to center field and Olivia Brooks came down the line to score to stake the Panthers to an early 1-0 lead. Sammey Bunch then walked to push the UNI lead out to 2-0.

Indiana State's Mallory Marsicek followed a pair of Sycamore base hits with one of her own in the top of the fourth inning to draw the Sycamores closer at 2-1. 

In the top of the sixth inning, Shaye Barton came to bat to lead off the frame and reached on a infield single. She moved to second after Rebecca Gibbs also singled to put runners on first and second with one out. Marsicek came to the plate at a key time once again when she doubled to left field to plate both Barton and Gibbs for the 3-2 lead. Barton would then ground out to score Becky Malchow for the 4-2 lead.

Kylie Stober started the game and led the team with 56 strikeouts, but it was the change in the circle to Arielle Blankenship with one out in the bottom of the 2nd that proved to be key. She pitched four innings of shutout, three-hit softball to keep the Panthers on the two run total until the offense could complete the comeback. Della Gher came in to pitch the final 1.2 innings for the win.

Gibbs made the play of the game with UNI threatening and two outs in the bottom of the seventh. She took a step in then quickly retreated to make an over the shoulder grab of a sharp hit ball from the Panthers' Tianna Drahn to secure the victory. Gher struck out the only Panther to whiff in the contest as she earned her school record eighth save of the season.

Blankenship earned the victory to improve to 8-3 on the season.

Sims, Gibbs and Marsicek all recorded multiple hits in the game while Marsicek enjoyed three RBI in the contest. 

GAME 2 RECAP (Northern Iowa 5, Indiana State 4)
The Sycamores jumped on the Panthers early in the second game as Leslie Sims walked with the bases loaded to score Gibbs for the early 1-0 lead. Bailey Martin then came to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a fly ball to centerfield, which was not fielded correctly as the error allowed Mycaela Miller and Mallory Marsicek to score as ISU led it 3-0.

Abbey Kruzel was cruising along in the fifth inning when she was pulled with one out. At one time she retired nine Panthers in a row. Blankenship came into the pitch and got a fielder's choice as well as a strikeout to end the threat.

Gher made her second appearance of the day in a tough spot with the bases loaded and only one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. UNI's Chesser hit a double into the left field corner which cleared the bases and tied the score at 3.

Indiana State didn't blink in the top of the seventh inning as Brittany Whiteside entered the game as a pinch hitter and walked while moving to second as Leslie Sims reached on an error. A fielders choice moved the runners to second and third as Shaye Barton came to the plate with two ducks on the pond and two outs. Barton ripped a single to left field which easily scored Sims while Martin was thrown out to end the inning. But the Sycamores held the 4-3 lead and needed just three more outs for a sweep.

It was not meant to be however as the rally caps ruled during this doubleheader and UNI completed the come back with seventh inning home runs from 
Sammey Bunch and Brittany Krodinger for the 5-4 victory.

Gher took the loss to fall to 3-5. 

Amanda Guercio enjoyed a 2-for-3 outing the game. Leslie Sims walked twice and scored a run in the contest.

UP NEXT
The final game of this series will be play on Sunday, April 22 at 2 pm (ET) outside at the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa. This game will not be available on The Valley On ESPN3.