UNI 1982 Softball Team

The University of Northern Iowa Department of Athletics will induct six individuals and the 1982 Panther softball team into its 2016 Athletics Hall of Fame Class.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include Ben Jacobson, Ray Pedersen, Rich Powers, Kim (Kester) Tierney and the 1982 national championship softball squad. Sandy Stevens will receive the Dr. Jitu D. Kothari Meritorious Service Award. Ellie (Blankenship) Reagan will be awarded the Merlin Taylor Academic Hall of Fame Award.

This year’s class will be inducted in a ceremony on Sat., Sept. 10. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. in the McLeod Center. Later that day, the UNI football team will play its home opener of the 2016 season against Montana in the UNI-Dome at 4 p.m.

1982 UNI SOFTBALL TEAM

The University of Northern Iowa softball team captured the second national title in program history in 1982. The Panthers won the AIAW Division II College World Series crown and posted a 35-15-1 overall record under the direction of then fourth-year head coach Meredith Bakley. In its eight games in AIAW championship play, UNI outscored its opposition, 35-3. UNI pitcher Jennifer Berger pitched her fifth no-hitter of the season and the Panthers claimed a 5-0 victory over the SIU Edwardsville Cougars for the national title. Berger set a school record with 216 strikeouts in 1982 a record that still stands today. On the season, Berger went 17-5 and gave up only eight earned runs in 159 2/3 innings pitched for a miniscule 0.35 earned run average. Berger ranked ninth in the nation in earned run average. Laurel Magee led the Panther hitters with a .319 batting average and a team-best 53 hits, which included eight triples. Marshelle Clark topped the squad in runs scored (35), stolen bases (10) and home runs (6). Jane Wagner led the squad with 12 doubles and 36 runs batted in. Wagner ranked third in the nation in doubles per game (0.24). Bakley’s squad set single-season school records for wins (35), runs scored (238), hits (360), doubles (43), triples (25), home runs (21), RBI (201), stolen bases (74), walks (128).

1982 UNI Softball Roster

Jerri Augustus C Jefferson, Iowa

Jennifer Berger P Marengo, Iowa

Marshelle Clark 2B Lake Mills, Iowa

Lori Cook P Green Mountain, Iowa

Betty Davis UTIL West Liberty, Iowa

Trish Eason P Scranton, Iowa

Kathy Gross P Spencer, Iowa

Laurel Magee 1B Waterloo, Iowa

Melinda McCauley OF Adel, Iowa

Robyn Murken C Story City, Iowa

Laura Norenberg OF Adel, Iowa

Shellie Pfohl 1B Dubuque, Iowa

Sherri Salsbury 3B Norwalk, Iowa

Pamela Severin OF Nevada, Iowa

Beth Sloan 3B Corwith, Iowa

Linda Stone OF Edgewood, Iowa

Betty Throndson SS New Hampton, Iowa

Jane Wagner OF Dubuque, Iowa

Jackie Winter C Waucoma, Iowa

Head Coach: Meredith Bakley