UNI softball to play in the MTSU Invitational Thursday and Friday

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Panther softball will play in one less game this week than expected due to weekend weather conditions in Tennessee.

After spending some time at home, the UNI softball team returns to Tennessee for the MTSU Invitational, hosted by Middle Tennessee. The tournament was originally scheduled for Friday through Sunday but due to rain and cold weather expected over the weekend, the tournament has been moved to Thursday and Friday. The Panthers will play the host team once on Friday, while taking on Chattanooga twice and playing a game against fellow MVC member Illinois State.

THE PANTHERS:
- It was a successful week in Tennessee for the Panthers as they grabbed four wins in four days. UNI's only loss of the week came to Austin Peay in the first day of the Governors Classic that was later avenged on Saturday in a 6-4 win.
- Redshirt sophomore Madison Parks has had a steady eye so far this season. She has reached base on a walk at least once a game so far this season. That leads the MVC and puts her at 24th in the nation.
- Freshman designated player Mya Dodge is already putting up big numbers for the Panthers in her first season. Dodge had four home runs in four straight games and a weekly slugging percentage of 1.167.
- Dodge was also named the MVC Newcomer of the Week by the conference for her performance behind the plate.

THE MOCS:
- Chattanooga is just one game under .500 on the season following a loss to #20 Auburn over the past weekend. The 9-10 Mocs have played in four tournaments so far this season, including two hosted at their home field of Frost Stadium. The Mocs are members of the Southern Conference with teams through Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and Alabama.
- The Mocs currently lead the SoCon in several batting categories including batting average and doubles per game. The Mocs also lead the conference in double plays per game showing their versitlity from behind the plate to the field.
- Chattanooga is led on offense by junior Gracey Kruse, who has a .349 batting average and a .400 on base percentage. Following closely is freshman Olivia Lipari, who has the team's best slugging percentage at .525 and an on base percentage of .359.
- In the circle the Mocs rely on junior Brooke Parrott with 46.1 innings pitched and just a 2.12 ERA. Parrott also has already pitched a perfect game, throwing seven innings to set down all 21 batters she faced using just 78 pitches against Radford on February 19th. Of the 78 pitches, 56 of them were strikes.

THE BLUE RAIDERS:
- Middle Tennessee is currently 9-12 on the season as a member of the C-USA conference. UNI has faced one other C-USA opponent in Charlotte earlier this season. Middle Tennessee has prominent wins against Evansville, Central Michigan, and Murray State.
- The Blue Raiders had their best weekend so far of the 2022 season in Florida, winning four-straight contests to finish the Spring Games 4-2. The Blue Raiders won four-straight contests in the final two days of the tournament with wins against Central Michigan, LIU, Radford, and Georgia Southern.
- Middle Tennessee is led by Anyce Harvey, batting a .417 (15-for-36) and posting an incredible .722 slugging percentage, as well as a .447 on-base percentage over 11 games this season. Harvey ranks third on the Blue Raiders with 15 hits, including nine doubles and a triple, while driving in a team-high 19 RBIs and scoring six runs. She also is a perfect 3-for-3 on stolen bases this season.
- Senior Corrina Dodd leads the Blue Raiders this season with a 4-3 record over seven appearances, including five complete games, including one complete game shutout. Dodd boasts a 2.95 ERA over 42.2 innings of work, and she's only allowed 18 runs on 34 hits, and has struck out a team-high 30 batters, including a season-high and tying her career-high of eight batters against Radford.

THE REDBIRDS:
- The Panthers will get an early look at the Redbirds squad this year with a nonconference matchup ahead of conference play later this month. In the overall MVC standings as Illinois State is right behind UNI with a 6-12 record. The Redbirds have faced tough competition to start the 2022 season, facing three teams ranked in the Top 25 while also facing two teams receiving votes just outside the Top 25.
- Illinois State Head Coach Melinda Fischer earned her 1,100th victory with the program on Saturday evening against Florida Atlantic at their Parents-Weekend Tournament. Fischer has been with the Redbirds for 37 seasons and is the longest tenured coach in the Valley.
- Redbirds senior second baseman Emme Olson was named one of 30 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award. The award looks to recognize total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
- Illinois State is led by sophomore outfielder Reili Gardner with a .415 batting percentage, 11 runs, and 22 hits through 17 games played. Gardner is second in the Valley in batting average and hits.

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