Tuesday, February 28
Macon, GA
5 PM
University of Northern Iowa
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Mercer University
4-10
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UNI
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12
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Mercer Softball
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UNI softball picks up second run-rule win over Mercer
2/28/2023 8:11:00 PM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – The Panthers picked up their second run-rule win of the season over the Mercer Bears on Tuesday night.
Every position in UNIs lineup scored a run between starters and pinch players in its 12-2 win over Mercer. The Panthers had three two-run homers and stole a season-high seven bases in their best offensive output of the early season. Freshman catcher Alexis Pupillo had her best game in a Panther uniform in her young career with three hits, three RBIs, and three runs scored.
UNI started hot as Pupillo moved up to the two spot in the lineup and found the left side for a single. Outfielder Madison Parks walked on a wild pitch that moved Pupillo to third after a stolen base earlier in the at-bat. Both runners made it home on the next play as left fielder Mya Dodge knocked a triple into right field for the first two runs of the game.
Two straight-outs following Dodge's single would leave her at third as the Panthers moved to defense. Starting pitcher Kailyn Packard allowed a leadoff single but responded with her first strikeout of the night. UNI picked up another out before the Bears hit a two-run homer to center, tying the game up. After the home run, one Mercer batter made it to first on a walk, but a strikeout swinging after the walk ended the first inning.
The game wasn't tied for long as second baseman Taylor Hogan took the leadoff walk and made it to second on a sacrifice fly from right fielder Faith Standerski. Hogan grabbed the lead back for the Panthers on a Kylee Sanders double to left before UNI switched over to defense. Following getting the Bears to go down in order to end the second, the Panther offense quickly added two more runs.
UNI had two outs to start the third but became dangerous as designated player Hannah Kelley walked to first. Third baseman Brooke Snider came up to bat in the six spot and let two balls go by before hitting her fourth home run of the season out past right. Up to a three-run lead, the Panthers went into the bottom of the inning with all the momentum.
Mercer threatened in the third getting two runners on base. Samantha Heyer came into the circle to replace Packard with two on and two outs, where she threw her first strikeout of the night to end the Bears potential rally. UNI made Mercer pay for getting runners on in the top of the fourth with their best offensive inning of the night.
Despite two early outs to start the fourth, Sanders' first walk of the night began a barrage of Panther offense. The next four batters for UNI reached base, including a home run to right field by Parks that scored two. MVC Player of the Week Hannah Kelley brought in the final run of the fourth for the Panthers on a single up the middle to bring Dodge home from third base.
Heyer continued her dominance in the circle in the bottom of the sixth, throwing two straight strikeouts before allowing a short single up the middle. She quickly recovered a swinging strikeout, ending the fourth. In the top of the fifth with a seven-run lead, UNI looked to end the game early by scoring at least one more run.
The Panthers were able to do better than one run with three in the fifth inning. After a single through the left side by Standerski, pinch hitter Addison McElrath smacked a double to right for run number 10. UNI's final scoring play of the night came from Pupillo, who hit her second home run of the year to left field.
Leading by 10, the Panthers moved into the field trying to get another run-rule win. A long ground out from third to first by Kate Lappe gave UNI one out as the next Bear walked. A flyout to left made it two outs, but another Mercer batter walked, putting a runner in scoring position. But Heyer was ready as she threw her fifth strikeout of the night to clinch the Panthers 12-2 win.
Pupillo led UNI with her career night as the only Panther with multiple hits. Seven other batters connected in the game, while Parks, Dodge, and Snider had two RBIs apiece. In the circle, Heyer was credited with the win, pitching the final 2.1 innings for one hit, two walks, and five strikeouts. Packard pitched 2.2 innings to start the game for two runs, three hits, two walks, and five strikeouts.
UP NEXT:
UNI will face a tough test in its next game on Thursday afternoon. The Panthers will head to Kennesaw to participate in the I-75 Tournament against the Kennesaw Owls. First pitch for Thursday's game is set for 4:30 p.m from Bailey Park.
Every position in UNIs lineup scored a run between starters and pinch players in its 12-2 win over Mercer. The Panthers had three two-run homers and stole a season-high seven bases in their best offensive output of the early season. Freshman catcher Alexis Pupillo had her best game in a Panther uniform in her young career with three hits, three RBIs, and three runs scored.
UNI started hot as Pupillo moved up to the two spot in the lineup and found the left side for a single. Outfielder Madison Parks walked on a wild pitch that moved Pupillo to third after a stolen base earlier in the at-bat. Both runners made it home on the next play as left fielder Mya Dodge knocked a triple into right field for the first two runs of the game.
Two straight-outs following Dodge's single would leave her at third as the Panthers moved to defense. Starting pitcher Kailyn Packard allowed a leadoff single but responded with her first strikeout of the night. UNI picked up another out before the Bears hit a two-run homer to center, tying the game up. After the home run, one Mercer batter made it to first on a walk, but a strikeout swinging after the walk ended the first inning.
The game wasn't tied for long as second baseman Taylor Hogan took the leadoff walk and made it to second on a sacrifice fly from right fielder Faith Standerski. Hogan grabbed the lead back for the Panthers on a Kylee Sanders double to left before UNI switched over to defense. Following getting the Bears to go down in order to end the second, the Panther offense quickly added two more runs.
UNI had two outs to start the third but became dangerous as designated player Hannah Kelley walked to first. Third baseman Brooke Snider came up to bat in the six spot and let two balls go by before hitting her fourth home run of the season out past right. Up to a three-run lead, the Panthers went into the bottom of the inning with all the momentum.
Mercer threatened in the third getting two runners on base. Samantha Heyer came into the circle to replace Packard with two on and two outs, where she threw her first strikeout of the night to end the Bears potential rally. UNI made Mercer pay for getting runners on in the top of the fourth with their best offensive inning of the night.
Despite two early outs to start the fourth, Sanders' first walk of the night began a barrage of Panther offense. The next four batters for UNI reached base, including a home run to right field by Parks that scored two. MVC Player of the Week Hannah Kelley brought in the final run of the fourth for the Panthers on a single up the middle to bring Dodge home from third base.
Heyer continued her dominance in the circle in the bottom of the sixth, throwing two straight strikeouts before allowing a short single up the middle. She quickly recovered a swinging strikeout, ending the fourth. In the top of the fifth with a seven-run lead, UNI looked to end the game early by scoring at least one more run.
The Panthers were able to do better than one run with three in the fifth inning. After a single through the left side by Standerski, pinch hitter Addison McElrath smacked a double to right for run number 10. UNI's final scoring play of the night came from Pupillo, who hit her second home run of the year to left field.
Leading by 10, the Panthers moved into the field trying to get another run-rule win. A long ground out from third to first by Kate Lappe gave UNI one out as the next Bear walked. A flyout to left made it two outs, but another Mercer batter walked, putting a runner in scoring position. But Heyer was ready as she threw her fifth strikeout of the night to clinch the Panthers 12-2 win.
Pupillo led UNI with her career night as the only Panther with multiple hits. Seven other batters connected in the game, while Parks, Dodge, and Snider had two RBIs apiece. In the circle, Heyer was credited with the win, pitching the final 2.1 innings for one hit, two walks, and five strikeouts. Packard pitched 2.2 innings to start the game for two runs, three hits, two walks, and five strikeouts.
UP NEXT:
UNI will face a tough test in its next game on Thursday afternoon. The Panthers will head to Kennesaw to participate in the I-75 Tournament against the Kennesaw Owls. First pitch for Thursday's game is set for 4:30 p.m from Bailey Park.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Heyer, Samantha (3-4)
L: Grace Taylor (1-6)
Batting:
2B: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; McElrath, Addison 1
3B: Dodge, Mya 1
HR: Pupillo, Alexis 1 ; Parks, Madison 1 ; Snider, Brooke 1
RBI: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Pupillo, Alexis 3 ; Parks, Madison 2 ; Dodge, Mya 2 ; Kelley, Hannah 1 ; Snider, Brooke 2 ; McElrath, Addison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Pupillo, Alexis 3 ; Parks, Madison 2 ; Dodge, Mya 1 ; Erpelding, Maggie 1 ; Snider, Brooke 1 ; Hogan, Taylor 1 ; Standerski, Faith 1 ; Kuper, Makenna 1
SB: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Pupillo, Alexis 2 ; Parks, Madison 1 ; Dodge, Mya 1 ; Hartz, Gretta 1 ; Hogan, Taylor 1
Batting:
HR: Tori Hedgecock 1
RBI: Tori Hedgecock 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Rebeca Laudino 1 ; Tori Hedgecock 1
SB: Rebeca Laudino 1 ; Madi Wicker 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P/IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UT/P
/ Softball3B/C/UT
/ Softball
UT/IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
UT
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UNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 2)
Wednesday, September 03