UNI softball sweeps Loyola with a sixth inning walkoff

Sunday, April 10

Cedar Falls, Iowa

12 PM

University of Northern Iowa

18-11, 9-1

Loyola University Chicago

9-21, 3-9

Loyola Chicago

Northern Iowa

UNI softball sweeps Loyola with a sixth inning walkoff

4/10/2022 2:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- A blustery day at Robinson-Dresser would prove eventful for UNI softball as they completed a three-game sweep of the Loyola Ramblers with Sunday's 10-2 walkoff victory.

The Panthers were unfazed by 30 mph wind gusts in their final game against Loyola on Sunday afternoon. It would be UNI's third game this week with double-digit hits as the Panthers run-ruled the Ramblers in six innings. Three batters for UNI had multiple hits while the Panthers two aces combined for seven strikeouts in the 10-2 win.

The scoring began quickly in the bottom of the first for UNI as designated player Mya Dodge grabbed an unearned run on a fielder's choice at second. The Panthers would get another unearned run later in the inning as right fielder Sammy Moss made it home on a sacrifice fly from shortstop Kylee Sanders. UNI would keep the two-run lead up until the top of the third.

A leadoff double to start the inning for Loyola would become two runs when first baseman Amelia Thomas drove a long single to center field. But the Panthers answered back quickly as UNI put two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the third off two Rambler errors. A well-placed single by catcher Emmy Wells would score two runs as Sanders and left fielder Kamryn Shaffer came home.

In the final three innings of the game, Loyola would put three more batters on base but only got close to home in the top of the fourth. Pinch hitter Hannah Nalley would round the bases on an error in left field, but a quick throw from Sanders to Wells would keep her from scoring.

First baseman DarynLamprecht drove a home run to left field in the second at-bat of the fourth for the Panthers to put UNI on top by three. Dodge would score a run in the fourth as well when center fielder Madison Parks hit a double to left field. And the scoring wouldn't stop there as the first two Panther batters in the fifth hit a single and a home run to bring the UNI lead up to six. Lamprecht would hit her second home run of the day three batters later in the fifth to make it a 9-2 game.

Parks ended the game for the Panthers with a solo shot to left in the top of the sixth for the walkoff. With an eight-run lead, UNI would end the game an inning early on the NCAA run rule.

For the second game in a row, the Panthers had three batters with multiple hits against the Ramblers. Parks, Wells, and Lamprecht had two hits each while Dodge, Moss, Sanders, Hogan, and Snider all had one hit. Wells led in RBIs for her third game this week with four. Lamprecht and Parks would also have multiple RBIs with two apiece.

Starting pitcher Kailyn Packard would be credited with the win on Sunday. Through five innings of work Packard allowed four hits and two runs on two errors while throwing six strikeouts. Redshirt sophomore Samantha Heyer would close out the final inning of the game for UNI, allowing no hits and no runs with one strikeout.

UP NEXT:
The Panthers hit the road this week for a three-game matchup with the Valparaiso Beacons. UNI is scheduled to play a doubleheader on Friday against the Beacons and will wrap up the series with a single game on Saturday. First pitch for game one on Friday is set for noon.