Nicole Kurth allowed one hit and Bridget Fournie smacked her first home run of the year as Illinois State swept Northern Iowa 2-0 and 3-0, respectively, in a Missouri Valley Conference softball doubleheader at the Redbird Softball Complex, Saturday.
Kurth kept the Panthers quiet until allowing a hit in the seventh and final inning en route to her 18th victory of the year. She had nine strikeouts and one walk in her 19th complete game on the year.
Fournie tucked her homer, the eighth of her career, just inside the right field foul pole to break a 0-0 tie in the fourth. Becky McMurtry stepped to the plate next and singled before Cutie Taylor ripped a triple to drive home McMurtry and secure the Redbirds' 2-0 win.
In game two, Audra Rast got the start on the mound for ISU and allowed seven hits in five innings before Kurth came in to nail down the save.
Illinois State scored in the third inning after two UNI errors brought Katie Shifflet, who had walked, across the plate. Shae Wesley rapped out an RBI single to score the second run in the same inning.
April Schermann capped the scoring in the sixth by ripping a run-scoring double to left center. Taylor, who reached on a single of her own, scored to give ISU the three-run cushion.
On the day, Illinois State had 12 hits while Northern Iowa had eight with three errors. The Redbirds are now 28-16, 16-3 in the Valley while the Panthers fall to 23-28, 11-12.
The three-game series concludes Sunday at noon with a single game. ISU's seniors, who will be playing their final home game, will be recognized in pre-game ceremonies.
