UNI softball heads to Charlotte for Niner Invitational

UNI vs. Wichita State

9 a.m. | Feb. 25
Charlotte, N.C. | Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium (300)

UNI vs. Minnesota

11:30 a.m. | Feb. 25
Charlotte, N.C. | Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium (300)

UNI vs. Minnesota

9 a.m. | Feb. 26
Charlotte, N.C. | Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium (300)

UNI vs. Charlotte

2 p.m. | Feb. 26
Charlotte, N.C. | Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium (300)

UNI vs. Charlotte

12:30 p.m. | Feb. 27
Charlotte, N.C. | Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium (300)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It'll be five games over three days for the UNI softball team as they compete in the Niner Invitational.

After having their first road game of the season rained out on Wednesday, the Panthers look to get back to playing at the Niner Invitational hosted by the Charlotte 49ers. It will be stiff competition for UNI at the weekend tournament as the three other teams participating are all receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll. Games start at 9 a.m. on Friday with the Panthers having the first game of the tournament against Wichita State.

THE PANTHERS:
- The Panthers hit the road for the first time this season for a long 13-day stretch. The road trip was supposed to begin with a stop in Cookeville to play the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. The game against Tech was instead canceled due to poor field conditions from rain.
- Redshirt sophomore Taylor Hogan recently placed 1st in the 3-meter dive during the MVC Swimming and Diving Championship over the past weekend. She will move on to compete at the NCAA Zones in early March in Madison, Wisconsin.
- Leading the Panthers in offense is freshman Mya Dodge with a batting average of .412. The freshman who spent much of the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic as UNI's designated hitter has 4 runs, 5 RBI's and a grand slam in the early going of the season.
- At the mound redshirt sophomore Samantha Heyer has a 1.91 ERA in 11 innings pitched. Heyer also leads UNI pitchers in strikeouts with 16 over 41 batters faced.

THE SHOCKERS:
- Wichita State is coming off a 2-2 showing at the Razorback Invitational and is currently 6-4 in their last 10 games. The Shockers started the season out ranked at 25th in the AP Top 25 but slid out of the poll after losses to unranked South Dakota, unranked Longwood, and #10 Arkansas.
- The Shockers will be spending most of the 2022 season away from their home ballpark of Wilkins Stadium. Wichita State will host just 11 home games, their lowest in program since 1983 when the team also hosted just 11 games in Wichita.
- Addison Barnard is the offensive leader for the Shockers as she has hit 27 career home runs, placing her in 9th on the Wichita State home run list. Barnard also leads the country in stolen bases with 13.
- When it comes to pitching, Wichita State has a consistent rotation, using their five pitchers across their nine games so far. Statistically Alison Cooper holds the lowest ERA but has the second to least batters faced as she is primarily used as a reliever. Of the Shockers starting pitchers, Erin McDonald has the most innings pitched and batters faced with 16 and 62 respectively. McDonald has an ERA of 3.50.

THE GOPHERS:
- Minnesota has won four-straight outings, while in Arizona lst weekend for the Littlewood Classic.The Gophers captured wins over UTEP, Illinois State, #21 Arizona State, and California while in the Grand Canyon state. Minnesota did open the tournament with a loss to the Sun Devils.
- The Gophers found their bats over the weekend striking for 38 runs in six games moving up to 45th in the NCAA in team slugging percentage at .497. After hitting 10 home runs during the trip, Minnesota now ranks 22nd nationally averaging 1.36 home runs per game.
- On offense, Minnesota is led by Megan Dray, who has four home runs on the season. Natalie DenHartog, Chloe Evans and Sydney Strelow also rank in the top 52 of the country when it comes to home runs, hitting three long balls each.
- Pitchers Autumn Pease (2-1) and Emily Leavitt (4-3) have pitched 72.2 of the team's 75.0 innings and combined to strikeout 69 opposing hitters, including 43 from Pease to sit 18th in the nation.

THE 49ERS:
- Charlotte is 10-2 this season, which includes a highlight-reel win over No. 22 James Madison over the past weekend. Their two losses came against Notre Dame, 16-1 and No. 15 Clemson, 5-2 with the Clemson loss happening earlier this week.
- Offensively, the 49ers are red-hot at the plate, hitting .327 with 14 home runs, 23 doubles and 72 RBI. Charlotte's 23 doubles rank fourth nationally, while they also rank in the top 25 in slugging percentage, scoring and shutouts.
- Individually Bailey Vannoy is hitting .488 with three home runs, five doubles, 14 runs and 10 RBI to lead Charlotte offensively. Cori Henderson is tied for the team lead with three home runs to go with nine RBI and a batting average of .395. In the circle.
- When it comes to pitching, Lindsey Walljasper is 5-1 in 32.1 innings with an ERA of 2.38 and 32 strikeouts for the 49ers. Number two pitcher Amelia Wiercioch leads the team in ERA at 0.97 with a 2-0 record in 21.2 innings pitched.

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