EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The University of Northern Iowa softball team got back on track Saturday afternoon as it snapped a three-game losing streak with a 9-0, 10-6 doubleheader sweep at Evansville.

The wins allowed UNI (23-11) to keep pace with Southern Illinois in a tie for third place in the Missouri Valley Conference at 7-3. Evansville remains winless in league play at 0-12 and is 8-22 overall.

Panther junior Jen Larsen took control of the doubleheader opener Saturday from the mound and in the batter's box. She threw a complete-game, six-hit shutout while also going 2-for-4 with a home run.

Morgan Paulson and Rachel Gerking added homers in the opener as UNI hit three home runs in a game for the fourth time this season.

In game two, UNI overcame a two-run deficit by scoring the game's final six runs, including four in the top of the eighth inning.

Catcher Kelly Papesh blasted her MVC-leading 11th home run in the top of the sixth inning to bring the Panthers within one run at 6-5.

In the top of the seventh inning, UNI tied the game with an RBI single by Larsen. Freshman relief pitcher Jaye Hutcheson escaped a jam in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, UNI broke the game open with four runs on five hits. Papesh gave the Panthers their first lead since the first inning with an RBI single. Machovec followed with a two-RBI triple and Mackenzie Daigh added an RBI double.

UNI will go for a series sweep at noon today.

FIRST GAME

Northern Iowa 000 114 3 - 9 11 0

Evansville 000 000 0 - 0 6 2

Larsen and Papesh; Wagner and Price. WP - Larsen (12-5). LP - Wagner (4-11). HRs - Larsen (5), Paulson (2), Balduf (7).

SECOND GAME

Northern Iowa 110 201 14 - 10 11 2

Evansville 202 020 00 - 6 9 2

Tillett, Hutcheson and Papesh; McKee and Price. WP - Hutcheson (4-1). LP - McKee (4-9). HR - Papesh (11).