UNI softball wins first doubleheader of the season against Kennesaw State

Saturday, March 4

Kennesaw, GA

12:30 PM

University of Northern Iowa

7-7

Kennesaw State University

5-12

Northern Iowa

Kennesaw State

UNI softball wins first doubleheader of the season against Kennesaw State

3/4/2023 7:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KENNESAW, Ga. – After a tough loss on Friday, the Panthers bounced back by taking both games of their doubleheader against the Kennesaw State Owls.

In their first meeting since 2018, UNI continued their series success against Kennesaw State with a 2-1 win and a 6-1 win over the Owls. The Panther offense took three innings to get going, but once the hits started coming they didn't stop through two games. UNI's pitching staff also returned to regular form against Kennesaw State, only allowing one earned run in 14 innings while making 26 strikeouts.

Game 1 | W, 2-1
Saturday's doubleheader had a quiet start as neither team was quite able to connect on a hit. The Panthers had a batter walk in the second, yet didn't score until their second hit in the top of the fourth. Following a single down the left field line from outfielder Madison Parks, left fielder Mya Dodge doubled to center, scoring Parks. UNI loaded the bases following the scored run but didn't bring anyone else home.

The Panther defense continued to shine in the fourth and fifth, making six outs in seven batters. This allowed the offense to bring in their second and final run of the game in the top of the fifth. First baseman Daryn Lamprecht led off the fifth with her third home run of the season over the left field fence. Shortstop Kylee Sanders followed up the homer with a double but would be stranded at second as three straight outs followed.

Kennesaw State scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. With runners at the corners, the Owls had a single to short, bringing an unearned run home. UNI's defense was able to answer in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 2-1 win. Two groundouts and a swinging strikeout from starting pitcher Samantha Heyer in five batters ended the first of two games in a Panther win.

UNI had five hits in the first game of the day, with five different players connecting at the plate. Lamprecht was the only player to appear in all parts of the box score with a run, a hit, an RBI, and a putout. Heyer pitched her third complete game of the season, allowing three hits, no earned runs, and making 13 strikeouts.

Game 2 | W, 6-1
Sanders kicked off the second game with a bang, hitting a solo shot to right to give the Panthers an early 1-0 lead. The next three UNI batters made it on base with two walks and a single from Dodge. Dodge's single to left gave her an RBI as catcher Alexis Pupillo scored, putting the Panthers up 2-0. UNI's productive first inning would end two batters later following two strikeouts and Dodge getting caught stealing at second.

The Owls also put up a single early, but staring pitcher Anna Wischnowski threw her first strikeout of the day to strand the runner at first. Lamprecht hit a single to short following two outs in the top of the second, but she was also stranded as UNI's next batter lined out to the pitcher. Kennesaw State went down 1-2-3 in the second as the Panther defense had three putouts in the field at right, second, and first.

UNI had its second leadoff homer of the day from Pupillo in the top of the third. The Owls made a pitching change following the home run and took out the Panthers next three batters in the field. Wischnowski picked up her second strikeout of the day facing her first batter in the third. Kennesaw State's next two batters were also put out by Wischnowski on two straight ground outs into the circle.

The Panthers loaded up the bases in the top of the fourth but didn't bring a runner home despite singles from Taylor Hogan and Sammey Moss. The lack of offense in the fourth wouldn't be a problem, as UNI stranded an Owl in the bottom of the fourth on a strikeout and two groundouts. UNI added another run in the top of the fifth after two doubles from Parks and Dodge. A long single from designated player Hannah Kelley brought Parks home while getting Dodge to third.

Dodge wouldn't make it home though as Kennesaw State got three outs on a double play and a pop-up. The Owls added their only run of the day in the bottom of the fifth. Despite two strikeouts for Wischnowski, Kennesaw State scored on their second hit of the inning. Following the score, Kailyn Packard stepped into the circle to close out the game for the Panthers.

Packard walked her first batter but struck out her second to end the fifth. The sixth was the first quiet inning for both teams as neither had a runner get past first. UNI didn't grab a hit in the inning while the Owls had a single who ended up stranded at first.

The Panthers closed out the game in the top of the seventh, adding two more runs on a two-out play by Hogan. With runners on second and third, Hogan hit a single to the infield. Following the single, Hogan was run down between first and second base by Kennesaw State's shortstop, second, and first baseman.

While the rundown was happening for the final out, Parks and pinch runner Gretta Hartz scored, giving UNI a 6-1 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers changed pitchers, giving Heyer another chance in the circle. Heyer allowed a leadoff walk in the final inning but quickly recovered with two strikeouts. A final ground out to short gave UNI its second win in as many games over the Owls.

Parks, Dodge, and Hogan had multiple hits as all three batters connected on two balls. Hogan was the only player with two RBIs while Pupillo and Dodge scored twice. All three of the Panther's pitchers appeared in the circle in UNI's second game of the day. Wischnowski was credited with the win after pitching 4.1 innings, allowing four hits, one run, one walk, and throwing five strikeouts.

UP NEXT:
The Panthers get almost a week off before their next game on the road. UNI heads to Tulsa, Okla. for the Tulsa Invitational from Friday, March 10 to Sunday, March 12. The Panthers will face both hosts Tulsa and Sam Houston in the weekend tournament.