Friday, May 12
Normal, Illinois
4 p.m.
University of Northern Iowa
vs
MVC Tournament Semifinal - Wichita State
Softball Readying for 2017 MVC Tournament
5/9/2017 2:18:00 PM | Softball
Complete Release (PDF)
2017 MVC Softball Tournament
Thursday, May 11
Game 1 - #5 Evansville vs. #8 Loyola, 11 a.m.
Game 2 - #6 Drake vs. #7 Missouri State, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, May 12
Game 3 - Game 1 winner vs. #4 Wichita State, 11 a.m.
Game 4 - Game 2 winner vs. #3 Southern Illinois, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Game 3 winner vs. #1 UNI, 4 p.m.
Game 6 - Game 4 winner vs. #2 Illinois State, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 13
Game 7 - MVC Championship, 1 p.m.
All seven games can be seen live on The Valley on ESPN3.
• The University of Northern Iowa softball team (32-18 overall, 20-6 MVC) will compete for the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament hosted by Illinois State in Normal, Illinois. The tournament will be played May 11-13 at Marian Kneer Stadium. The Panthers' first game of the MVC Tournament will be Friday at 4 p.m. in the semifinals. UNI will play one of three opponents -  No. 4 Wichita State, No. 5 Evansville or No. 8 Loyola.
• All-session tickets are available for $20 and single-session tickets are available at $10 (adult) and $5 (youth). Fans can buy tickets by calling 309.438.8000 or at GoRedbirds.com.
• UNI used a three-game sweep of Illinois State last weekend to capture a share of the 2017 MVC regular season title. As a result of the sweep, UNI earned the No. 1 seed for the MVC Tournament.Â
• UNI finished the season having won 12 of its last 14 MVC games. The Panthers won their final six MVC games to win a share of the league title.
• UNI has won three regular season MVC titles - 2000, 2012, 2017.
• The Panthers have captured two MVC Tournament titles in program history. UNI won league tourney titles in 1990 and 2013.
• The Panthers finished in the top four of the final MVC standings for the eighth time in the last nine seasons.
• UNI has an all-time time of 32-42 in MVC Tournament play. UNI last won an MVC tourney game in 2013 when the Panthers went 3-0 and captured the title in Omaha, Nebraska.
TWO MORE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
The Panthers tallied a pair of weekly MVC honors after sweeping Illinois State.
   Junior Kennedy Bailey earned her second career MVC Player of the Week award. Bailey began the weekend by boosting UNI to an 11-1 win over the Redbirds with two home runs and seven RBI. She entered the weekend with seven RBI on the season. Bailey finished the three-game set by batting .500 with a 1.250 slugging percentage.
   Freshman Sammey Bunch earned her second MVC Freshman of the Week tally and she hit .455 with an .818 slugging percentage. Bunch totaled five fits, five RBI, three runs a double and home run in the three-game sweep of the Redbirds.
ANOTHER 30-WIN SEASON
UNI has recorded its 15th 30-win season in program history. It marks the fifth time during head coach Ryan Jacobs' tenure at UNI that his team has reached the 30-win plateau.
MOST WINS SINGLE SEASON
1. Â Â Â 40 (1994)
2. Â Â Â 38 (2012)
   38 (2016)
4.   35 (1982)
   35 (1988)
6.   34 (1996)
   34 (2009)
8.   33 (1989)
   33 (2002)
10.   32 (1999)
   32 (2011)
   32 (2017)
TOUGH TO STRIKE OUT
Junior Brittney Roby ranks as the No. 10-toughest hitter to strikeout. Roby has 166 at-bats this season and has struck out only four times.
CAN'T KEEP 'EM OFF THE BASES
Brittney Roby has reached base in 20 consecutive games and Kennedy Bailey has reached base in 12 consecutive games heading into play this weekend at the MVC Tournament.
FRESHMAN LEADS IN BUNCHES
Freshman shortstop Sammey Bunch leads the Panthers in batting average (.333), runs (41), hits (49), doubles (12), triples (4), stolen bases (12) and slugging percentage (.612).
JACOBS NEARS 300 WINS
UNI head coach Ryan Jacobs is closing in on 300 career wins. He enters the 2017 MVC Tournament with 299 victories.
   Jacobs has twice been awarded the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year award (2009, 2012).Â
Overall Coaching Wins at MVC school
Rk.   Name, School    Wins
1. Â Â Â Melinda Fischer, ILS (1986-pres.) Â Â Â 1,009
2. Â Â Â Holly Hesse, MSU (1989-pres.) Â Â Â 748
3. Â Â Â Brent Vigness, CU (1994-2013) Â Â Â 635
4. Â Â Â Kay Brechtelsbauer, SIU (1968-99) Â Â Â 633
5. Â Â Â Meredith Bakley, UNI (1979-00) Â Â Â 630
6. Â Â Â Kerri Blaylock, SIU (2000-pres.) Â Â Â 625
7. Â Â Â Mary Higgins, CU (1977-93) Â Â Â 564
8. Â Â Â Gwen Lewis, UE (1992-2009) Â Â Â 506
9. Â Â Â Rich Calvert, DU (2003-pres.) Â Â Â 413
10.   Jim Maynard, WSU (1989-99)    313
11.   Ryan Jacobs (2008-pres.)   299
MVC Wins - League only
Rk.   Name, School    Wins
1. Â Â Â Melinda Fischer, ILS (1986-pres.) Â Â Â 481
2. Â Â Â Holly Hesse, MSU (1989-pres.) Â Â Â 314
3. Â Â Â Kerri Blaylock, SIU (2000-pres.) Â Â Â 292
4. Â Â Â Brent Vigness, CU (1994-2013) Â Â Â 282
5 Â Â Â Rich Calvert, DU (2003-pres.) Â Â Â 200
6.   Kay Brechtelsbauer, SIU (1968-99)    158
7. Â Â Â Gwen Lewis, UE (1992-2009) Â Â Â 156
8. Â Â Â Ryan Jacobs, UNI (2008-pres.) Â Â Â 145
9. Â Â Â Meredith Bakley, UNI (1979-00) Â Â Â 133
10. Â Â Â Jim Maynard, WSU (1989-99) Â Â Â 97
FIRST UNI SWEEP OF ILLINOIS STATE
UNI's three-game sweep of the Illinois State Redbirds over the weekend was the first series sweep in program history for the Panthers over the Redbirds.
   Illinois State holds a commanding 74-25-1 lead in the all-time series vs. UNI.
SEVEN LAST AT-BAT WINS
UNI has recorded seven last at-bat wins this season, including six in Missouri Valley Conference play.
HOME COOKIN'
UNI enjoyed a home record of 15-3 this season, including an impressive 11-1 mark in MVC play.
   UNI's only three home losses came to Wisconsin (1-0), Iowa (4-2) and Southern Illinois (7-6).
VARRIANO NABS WOULD-BE THEFTS
Senior catcher Anna Varriano has thrown out 16 would-be base stealers this season to tie for the second-highest single-season total in program history.
   Kelly Papesh gunned down 19 base stealers in 2006 and Angela Higgins throw out 16 runners in 2002.
PANTHER LEADERS IN HITS BY INNING
1ST INNING
Brittney Roby - 13 hits
2ND INNING
Sammey Bunch - 11 hits
3RD INNING
Brittney Roby - 10 hits
4TH INNING
Anna Varriano - 7 hits
5TH INNING
Macey Wolfe - 10 hits
6TH INNING
Sammey Bunch - 11 hits
7TH INNING
Macey Wolfe - 9 hits
8TH INNING
Anna Varriano - 2 hits
9TH INNING OR LATER
Brittney Krodinger - 2 hits
UNI SOFTBALL EARNS APR RECOGNITION
The UNI softball team is one of five Panther programs to have been recognized by the NCAA for their latest multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. These teams posted multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports.
   Softball, men's golf, women's golf, women's cross country and volleyball all earned NCAA APR recognition on May 3.
   It is the first time that the UNI softball team has earned the top-10 percent NCAA APR recognition.
   The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.
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2017 MVC Softball Tournament
Thursday, May 11
Game 1 - #5 Evansville vs. #8 Loyola, 11 a.m.
Game 2 - #6 Drake vs. #7 Missouri State, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, May 12
Game 3 - Game 1 winner vs. #4 Wichita State, 11 a.m.
Game 4 - Game 2 winner vs. #3 Southern Illinois, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Game 3 winner vs. #1 UNI, 4 p.m.
Game 6 - Game 4 winner vs. #2 Illinois State, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 13
Game 7 - MVC Championship, 1 p.m.
All seven games can be seen live on The Valley on ESPN3.
• The University of Northern Iowa softball team (32-18 overall, 20-6 MVC) will compete for the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament hosted by Illinois State in Normal, Illinois. The tournament will be played May 11-13 at Marian Kneer Stadium. The Panthers' first game of the MVC Tournament will be Friday at 4 p.m. in the semifinals. UNI will play one of three opponents -  No. 4 Wichita State, No. 5 Evansville or No. 8 Loyola.
• All-session tickets are available for $20 and single-session tickets are available at $10 (adult) and $5 (youth). Fans can buy tickets by calling 309.438.8000 or at GoRedbirds.com.
• UNI used a three-game sweep of Illinois State last weekend to capture a share of the 2017 MVC regular season title. As a result of the sweep, UNI earned the No. 1 seed for the MVC Tournament.Â
• UNI finished the season having won 12 of its last 14 MVC games. The Panthers won their final six MVC games to win a share of the league title.
• UNI has won three regular season MVC titles - 2000, 2012, 2017.
• The Panthers have captured two MVC Tournament titles in program history. UNI won league tourney titles in 1990 and 2013.
• The Panthers finished in the top four of the final MVC standings for the eighth time in the last nine seasons.
• UNI has an all-time time of 32-42 in MVC Tournament play. UNI last won an MVC tourney game in 2013 when the Panthers went 3-0 and captured the title in Omaha, Nebraska.
TWO MORE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
The Panthers tallied a pair of weekly MVC honors after sweeping Illinois State.
   Junior Kennedy Bailey earned her second career MVC Player of the Week award. Bailey began the weekend by boosting UNI to an 11-1 win over the Redbirds with two home runs and seven RBI. She entered the weekend with seven RBI on the season. Bailey finished the three-game set by batting .500 with a 1.250 slugging percentage.
   Freshman Sammey Bunch earned her second MVC Freshman of the Week tally and she hit .455 with an .818 slugging percentage. Bunch totaled five fits, five RBI, three runs a double and home run in the three-game sweep of the Redbirds.
ANOTHER 30-WIN SEASON
UNI has recorded its 15th 30-win season in program history. It marks the fifth time during head coach Ryan Jacobs' tenure at UNI that his team has reached the 30-win plateau.
MOST WINS SINGLE SEASON
1. Â Â Â 40 (1994)
2. Â Â Â 38 (2012)
   38 (2016)
4.   35 (1982)
   35 (1988)
6.   34 (1996)
   34 (2009)
8.   33 (1989)
   33 (2002)
10.   32 (1999)
   32 (2011)
   32 (2017)
TOUGH TO STRIKE OUT
Junior Brittney Roby ranks as the No. 10-toughest hitter to strikeout. Roby has 166 at-bats this season and has struck out only four times.
CAN'T KEEP 'EM OFF THE BASES
Brittney Roby has reached base in 20 consecutive games and Kennedy Bailey has reached base in 12 consecutive games heading into play this weekend at the MVC Tournament.
FRESHMAN LEADS IN BUNCHES
Freshman shortstop Sammey Bunch leads the Panthers in batting average (.333), runs (41), hits (49), doubles (12), triples (4), stolen bases (12) and slugging percentage (.612).
JACOBS NEARS 300 WINS
UNI head coach Ryan Jacobs is closing in on 300 career wins. He enters the 2017 MVC Tournament with 299 victories.
   Jacobs has twice been awarded the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year award (2009, 2012).Â
Overall Coaching Wins at MVC school
Rk.   Name, School    Wins
1. Â Â Â Melinda Fischer, ILS (1986-pres.) Â Â Â 1,009
2. Â Â Â Holly Hesse, MSU (1989-pres.) Â Â Â 748
3. Â Â Â Brent Vigness, CU (1994-2013) Â Â Â 635
4. Â Â Â Kay Brechtelsbauer, SIU (1968-99) Â Â Â 633
5. Â Â Â Meredith Bakley, UNI (1979-00) Â Â Â 630
6. Â Â Â Kerri Blaylock, SIU (2000-pres.) Â Â Â 625
7. Â Â Â Mary Higgins, CU (1977-93) Â Â Â 564
8. Â Â Â Gwen Lewis, UE (1992-2009) Â Â Â 506
9. Â Â Â Rich Calvert, DU (2003-pres.) Â Â Â 413
10.   Jim Maynard, WSU (1989-99)    313
11.   Ryan Jacobs (2008-pres.)   299
MVC Wins - League only
Rk.   Name, School    Wins
1. Â Â Â Melinda Fischer, ILS (1986-pres.) Â Â Â 481
2. Â Â Â Holly Hesse, MSU (1989-pres.) Â Â Â 314
3. Â Â Â Kerri Blaylock, SIU (2000-pres.) Â Â Â 292
4. Â Â Â Brent Vigness, CU (1994-2013) Â Â Â 282
5 Â Â Â Rich Calvert, DU (2003-pres.) Â Â Â 200
6.   Kay Brechtelsbauer, SIU (1968-99)    158
7. Â Â Â Gwen Lewis, UE (1992-2009) Â Â Â 156
8. Â Â Â Ryan Jacobs, UNI (2008-pres.) Â Â Â 145
9. Â Â Â Meredith Bakley, UNI (1979-00) Â Â Â 133
10. Â Â Â Jim Maynard, WSU (1989-99) Â Â Â 97
FIRST UNI SWEEP OF ILLINOIS STATE
UNI's three-game sweep of the Illinois State Redbirds over the weekend was the first series sweep in program history for the Panthers over the Redbirds.
   Illinois State holds a commanding 74-25-1 lead in the all-time series vs. UNI.
SEVEN LAST AT-BAT WINS
UNI has recorded seven last at-bat wins this season, including six in Missouri Valley Conference play.
HOME COOKIN'
UNI enjoyed a home record of 15-3 this season, including an impressive 11-1 mark in MVC play.
   UNI's only three home losses came to Wisconsin (1-0), Iowa (4-2) and Southern Illinois (7-6).
VARRIANO NABS WOULD-BE THEFTS
Senior catcher Anna Varriano has thrown out 16 would-be base stealers this season to tie for the second-highest single-season total in program history.
   Kelly Papesh gunned down 19 base stealers in 2006 and Angela Higgins throw out 16 runners in 2002.
PANTHER LEADERS IN HITS BY INNING
1ST INNING
Brittney Roby - 13 hits
2ND INNING
Sammey Bunch - 11 hits
3RD INNING
Brittney Roby - 10 hits
4TH INNING
Anna Varriano - 7 hits
5TH INNING
Macey Wolfe - 10 hits
6TH INNING
Sammey Bunch - 11 hits
7TH INNING
Macey Wolfe - 9 hits
8TH INNING
Anna Varriano - 2 hits
9TH INNING OR LATER
Brittney Krodinger - 2 hits
UNI SOFTBALL EARNS APR RECOGNITION
The UNI softball team is one of five Panther programs to have been recognized by the NCAA for their latest multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. These teams posted multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports.
   Softball, men's golf, women's golf, women's cross country and volleyball all earned NCAA APR recognition on May 3.
   It is the first time that the UNI softball team has earned the top-10 percent NCAA APR recognition.
   The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.
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Players Mentioned
1B
/ Softball
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/ Softball
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