Northern Iowas nationally-ranked offense shrugged off 12 strikeouts by Neal Cotts to score early and often in support of a dominant performance by Nic Ungs in a 9-0 victory over Illinois State in the first game of a four-game Missouri Valley Conference series from Riverfront Stadium Friday.
In a matchup featuring two of the top pitchers in the Missouri Valley Conference in Illinois States Neal Cotts and Northern Iowas Nic Ungs, it was the Panther offense that stole the show in the series-opener.
Facing the top-ranked offense in the league, Cotts was able to hold the Panthers in check with seven strikeouts in the first three innings. Ranked No. 18 nationally with 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings, Cotts fanned the side with ease in the second and third innings.
Unable to mount a sustained offensive attack against Cotts, Northern Iowa played a little small ball to scratch two unearned runs in the fourth inning.
The Panthers got things started in the fourth with back-to-back bunt singles by Marty Sutherland and Seth Patterson followed by an error by ISU third baseman Jon Peacock on the third consecutive Panther bunt. Peacocks error allowed Sutherland to score and put two more runners in scoring position for Willie Durazo who delivered a sacrifice fly to right to plate Patterson.
After holding serve in the top of the fifth, the Panthers went back to work in their half of the frame, playing long ball to tack on three more runs. A leadoff homer to right by Aaron McEachran and a two-run shot to left by Simon gave Ungs and the Panthers a 5-0 lead after five innings.
The Panthers tacked on another unearned run off Cotts before he gave way to reliever Tim Boyer who allowed a solo run in the seventh and two more in the eighth.
Cotts (7-2) went six innings, allowing six runs (three earned), on eight hits and four walks while striking out 12 batters, one shy of his career-high.
Ungs (9-1) went the distance, fanning 10 batters and holding the Birds scoreless to tie a UNI school record with his ninth win of the year.
Ryan Cantrell and Scott Legan had two hits apiece for the Redbirds.
Saturdays doubleheader has been moved from 4 p.m. to 1 p.m. due to the threat of rain in the evening.
