UNI softball drops first road game to Austin Peay State

Wednesday, February 22

Clarksville, TN

1 PM

University of Northern Iowa

0-6

Austin Peay State University

3-6

Northern Iowa

Austin Peay

UNI softball drops first road game to Austin Peay State

2/22/2023 8:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- An early surge of offense couldn't keep the Panthers on top as they fell to the Austin Peay State Governors 10-5 on Wednesday afternoon.

UNI had its first road test of the season on Wednesday afternoon at Cathi Maynard Park. It was a fast start for the Panthers as outfielder Madison Parks hit a two-run homer to center field to bring herself and shortstop Kylee Sanders across home plate. Catcher Alexis Pupillo would also make it on base in the first but a ground out to third from Taylor Hogan ended a productive opening frame for UNI.

But the Governors were able to quickly answer back, putting up four runs in the first inning on two hits and three walks. Starting pitcher Samantha Heyer did throw two strikeouts in the first to get the Panthers out of the inning. It was a quiet second inning on offense as UNI went three up and three down. UNI made two putouts in the second but a triple brought home a lone runner to put the Panthers down by three heading into the third.

Outfielder Faith Standerski singled up the middle on her second at-bat of the day in the top of the third. But after advancing to second on a passed ball, she would get no further with a flyout and a strikeout following her hit. UNI's defense made it a short third inning, grabbing three outs in five batters, including another strikeout for Heyer.

The Panther offense found its footing again in the fourth inning as Pupillo led off with a single out to left. UNI's next two batters wouldn't reach base but third baseman Brooke Snider smacked a ball to left center, bringing herself and Pupillo home for the Panthers second home run of the day. Only down by one run, outfielder Sammy Moss and Sanders made it on base after both being hit by Governors starting pitcher Jordan Benefiel. But Standerski wasn't able to get a second hit in as many innings, ending UNI's turn at the plate.

Austin Peay State widened the gap right away in the second as its second batter hit a solo home run to right center. The Panther defense quickly recovered getting a flyout and a strikeout after the homer to make it a short fourth for the Governors. UNI had a runner on base in the top of the fifth, but couldn't bring pinch runner Maggie Erpelding home after a hit from first baseman Daryn Lamprecht.

Two straight hits in the bottom of the fifth had the Panthers facing two runners in scoring position early. A throwing error on a wild pitch to try and get an out at third brought two more runners home. Sophomore Anna Wischnowski replaced Heyer in the circle for the final two batters of the inning, who both popped out to Sanders at short.

Going into the sixth, UNI faced a four-run deficit that wouldn't be solved then as a new pitcher for Austin Peay threw three straight putouts. The bottom of the sixth wouldn't get much better for the Panthers as the Governors brought two more runs home on two singles and a throwing error. Down by six, UNI faced a tough task in the top of the seventh to try and force extras.

A solo home run from Faith Standerski in the Panthers second at-bat seemed like the start of a rally. But UNI couldn't figure out Austin Peay's closer to get any more hits on the day, dropping the game to the Governors 10-5.

Heyer was credited with the loss for the Panthers, throwing 4.1 innings for seven hits, eight runs, seven earned runs, and five strikeouts. On offense, Standerski and Pupillo led the way for UNI with two hits a piece. Five different runners scored for the Panthers, including Standerski, Pupillo, Snider, Sanders, and Parks. Snider and Parks also led UNI in RBIs with two each.

UP NEXT:
The Panthers have their first away tournament of the season this weekend as they travel down to the Peach State. UNI will compete in the Panther Invitational hosted by Georgia State with five games in three days. The Panthers will play two games on Friday against Western Carolina and host Georgia State. First pitch for game one is set for 10 a.m. from Bob Heck Softball Complex.