UNI softball adjusts schedule for Southern Illinois weekend series

UNI vs. Southern Illinois

2 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. | April 14
Cedar Falls, Iowa | Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex
ESPN+ | Brad Wells: Play-by-play, Brain Erbe: Analyst

UNI vs. Southern Illinois

2 p.m. | April 15-
Cedar Falls, Iowa | Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex
ESPN3 | Brad Wells: Play-by-play, Brian Erbe: Analyst

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Panthers will try to play three games in two days depending on the weather in the Cedar Falls area this weekend.

A three-day weekend series against the Southern Illinois Salukis has now become a two-day series due to projected weather near Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex. Friday afternoon, UNI will play a doubleheader against the Salukis with first pitch set for 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The final game of the series is currently scheduled for its initial date and time of Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Panthers will look to continue their impressive slugging performance from earlier in the week against tough competition.

THE PANTHERS:
- UNI put up big numbers against its in-state Missouri Valley Conference rival Drake in the first of three Tuesday matchups this week. The Panthers were able to end the afternoon's game early in the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk-off home run from current MVC Newcomer of the Week, Alexis Pupillo.
- The Panthers now sit atop the rankings in several categories in the Valley. UNI is first in the MVC in doubles (61), doubles per game (1.79), fielding percentage(0.976), home runs per game (1.15), scoring (6.32), slugging percentage (500), and shutout games (9).
- Along with leading the Valley, UNI is one of the top teams in the nation in multiple statistical categories. The Panthers are fourth among Division I schools in doubles per game averaging 1.79 a contest. They also sit in the Top 25 in doubles, fielding percentage, scoring, and strikeout-to-walk ratio.
- Part of the Panthers jump in the national rankings is thanks to freshman catcher Alexis Pupillo. With two home runs in back-to-back games, she is currently 29th among Division I hitters in bombs on the season with 11. Pupillo is also closely approaching taking the top spot in the MVC rankings from SIU's Jackie Lis who currently has 12 homers on the season.

THE SALUKIS:
- Southern Illinois comes into Friday's contest with the best overall record in the Valley at 29-8, but have struggled some in conference play at 10-4. In fact the Salukis are currently on a three game skid with losses Evansville and SEMO.
- The Salukis dominated their nonconference schedule in 2023 in a return to form after having a tough 2022 season. Southern Illinois picked up notable wins over Kansas, DePaul, and St. Louis to go 17-3 heading into MVC play.
- Southern Illinois is the other team in the Missouri Valley that sits in first in multiple statistical categories including batting average (0.313), on base percentage (0.397), and win-loss percentage (0.784).
- The Salukis are led by junior outfielder Elizabeth Warrick, the reigning MVC Player of the Week. In the batters box, Warrick has a .400 average to lead the Valley, an OPS of 1.100 and a slugging percentage of 0.581. In the circle, Southern Illinois relies on junior Madi Eberle who is 13-3 in 96 innings of work with a 1.60 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.

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