UNI softball extends win streak to 10 with doubleheader wins over Drake

Tuesday, April 19

Cedar Falls, Iowa

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

22-11, 13-1

Drake University

14-22, 8-7

Drake

Northern Iowa

UNI softball extends win streak to 10 with doubleheader wins over Drake

4/19/2022 7:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- In their first meeting of the season, UNI softball grabbed doubleheader wins over the Drake Bulldogs.

After getting a look at each other during the UNI-Dome Doc Halverson Classic in February, the Panthers and Bulldogs finally matched up midway through the Missouri Valley Conference season. UNI would be the victors in the team's first two matchups winning a run shortened game 10-2 and the second game of the afternoon doubleheader 7-4. With the two wins on Tuesday afternoon, the Panthers are on a 10-game win streak and looking to match the program's longest win streak at 15 over the weekend.

Game 1 | W, 10-2
It wasn't the start UNI envisioned in the first game as Drake got on the board early with two runs in the top of the first inning. But that would be the only offensive production from the Bulldogs in the game as the Panthers were able to answer back in the bottom of the second. A single and a walk to start the half-inning put two runners on before UNI's first out of the second. After the Panthers lone strikeout second baseman, Taylor Hogan walked to load the bases for third baseman Brooke Snider.

At the plate Snider swung on the first pitch she saw, sending a home run to left-center for her first career grand slam at UNI while giving the Panthers a two-run lead. UNI would score one more run in the second as right fielder Sammy Moss split the gap in left-center for a double. The throw to home by Drake would go over the catcher, allowing designated player Mya Dodge to score the fifth run of the inning.

Along with success at the plate in the second, UNI turned their fourth double play in four games in the top of the third. A flyout to Moss would turn into a second out at second as she made the quick throw to shortstop Kylee Sanders for the tag. The Panthers would then add four more runs in the bottom of the third. On a steal to second by pinch-runner, Maggie Erpelding left fielder Kamryn Shaffer was able to score a run on a Bulldog error by their second baseman. Erpelding made her way home when Hogan pulled off a squeeze play after taking third base on a ball earlier in the at-bat.

With Hogan on first, Snider connected for a second hit, a double to right field. Hogan would score UNI's eighth run of the day on the double. Snider advanced to third on a groundout from first baseman DarynLamprecht and would be brought home when Moss singled past third base for her second RBI of the game. The Panthers scored their 10th and final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning as Dodge hit a walkoff triple to get pinch-runner Hannah Isley home.

Starting pitcher Kailyn Packard threw her 15th complete game against the Bulldogs. Through seven innings of work, Packard allowed two runs on four hits and threw seven strikeouts. Snider led the way in hits as she connected on all three of her at-bats in the first game against Drake. Moss and Shaffer would also have multi-hit games while Dodge, Sanders, and Hogan all had one run apiece. Snider was also UNI's RBI leader with five runs batted in.

Game 2 | W, 7-4
The second game of the afternoon was much tighter between the Panthers and the Bulldogs. Drake struck first for the second game in a row as their third baseman hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning. UNI answered back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning. Snider would be walked midway through the Panthers turn through the lineup to go to first. In the next at-bat, Lamprecht hit a home run just to the left of center field to put UNI up by a run.

The Bulldogs quickly tied the game back up in the third with two straight doubles to begin the half-inning. But three straight outs a batter later would end Drake's offensive streak in the third. The Panthers took the lead back in the bottom of the inning as catcher Emmy Wells hit an infield fly with the bases loaded to get Moss home.

UNI extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth as Dodge hit a two-run homer following Snider's third double of the afternoon. With the Panthers up by three, the Bulldogs tried to threaten in the fifth with runners in scoring position. A strikeout and a fielder's choice at second would end Drake's attempted rally in the fifth.

The Panthers added another run in the bottom of the inning as Wells hit a solo shot that stayed fair down the left-field line and made their final run in the bottom of the sixth. In the sixth UNI had another solo home run as Lamprecht hit her second of the day, this time straight back to center field. The Panthers entered the top of the seventh inning with a five-run lead but wouldn't be done quite yet.

The Bulldogs began a late-game rally in the top of the seventh with a leadoff single and two straight walks. With the bases loaded, UNI put Packard back in at pitcher for starter Samantha Heyer. Drake's next batter would hit a sacrifice fly to right field for a third run. The sac fly was then followed by an RBI single to cut the Panther's lead down to three. But two straight strikeouts from Packard would end the game, giving UNI their second win of the day.

In her fifth start of the season, Heyer pitched six innings with seven hits, four runs, and 10 strikeouts. Packard would pitch a full inning with one hit and two strikeouts to be credited with the save. The Panthers would only have two players in their second game of the day have multiple hits as Moss and Lamprecht each hit two. But five other batters (Dodge, Sanders, Wells, Hogan, and Snider) would have a hit each to give UNI nine hits through the game. Along with two hits, Lamprecht also had three RBIs to lead the Panthers while Dodge and Wells each had two.

UP NEXT:
The Panthers continue their longest homestand of the season over the weekend against the Illinois State Redbirds. UNI is scheduled for a doubleheader with Illinois State on Saturday, April 23, and a single game on Sunday, April 24. First pitch for the doubleheader on Saturday is set for noon.