UNI softball outscores Bradley 23-4 in doubleheader wins

Sunday, April 2

Cedar Falls, Iowa

12 PM

University of Northern Iowa

19-10, 8-0

Bradley University

10-25, 3-5

Bradley

Northern Iowa

UNI softball outscores Bradley 23-4 in doubleheader wins

4/2/2023 6:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- It took almost seven innings for the Panther offense to get going, but once they started hitting they didn't stop in two wins against the Bradley Braves on Sunday afternoon.

UNI continues to have a perfect start to conference play after two more wins over Bradley in a Sunday doubleheader. The Panthers picked up a 5-4 walk-off win in the first game of the day on a solo home run from second baseman Taylor Hogan in extras. UNI's offense continued into the second game of the day, where they shut out the Braves 18-0 in a five-inning game.

Game 1 | W, 5-4 (Eight Innings)
While the Panthers didn't score a run until the bottom of the seventh inning, their bats got going early with two hits in the top of the first. UNI's defense and starting pitcher Kailyn Packard held strong against Bradley's offense through four innings, picking up seven strikeouts without allowing a hit. But after getting a runner on through an error in the top of the fourth, the Braves figured out the Panthers' defense in the fifth.

Bradley scored three runs on three hits in the top of the fifth that UNI wasn't able to answer for in the bottom half of the inning. The Panthers put another runner on base in the bottom of the sixth on a walk and a single to center by center fielder Madison Parks. But two straight outs right after Parks at-bat ended UNI's chance on offense. The Braves added another run in the top of the seventh on two singles, taking a four-nothing lead into the final frame and looking all but ready to close the game out.

But the Panthers came roaring to life at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, starting with two walks for Hogan and pinch hitter Ellie Owen. With two on and one out, first baseman Daryn Lamprecht hit a stand-up double into center field to score Hogan. Shortstop Kylee Sanders followed up with a double of her own, scoring pinch runner Makenna Kuper and Lamprecht to put UNI with one.

In the Panthers' next at-bat, catcher Alexis Pupillo connected on a long single into right field, tying the game up by bringing Sanders home. UNI hit into a double play on the next at-bat taking the game into extra innings. Redshirt junior Samantha Heyer stepped into the circle in the top of the eighth for Packard, throwing three strikeouts to five batters.

The Panthers headed into the bottom of the eighth with one thing on their mind, a walk-off win. And walk off they did as Hogan connected on a home run deep into left field after two outs. Hogan's second homer of the year gave UNI the 5-4 win in extra innings against Bradley.

Parks was the only Panther batter to have more than one hit in the first game of the day while Hogan was the only runner who scored two. Sanders had UNI's lone hit with multiple RBIs while two other batters picked up hits that scored a run. In the circle, Packard and Heyer combined for 16 strikeouts in 32 at-bats with only three walks allowed. The Panthers continued their success from the first game of the day right into the second only 30 minutes later.

Game 2 | W, 18-0 (Five Innings)
After warming up with an inning in the first game of the day, Heyer came back into the circle to throw back-to-back strikeouts to begin game two. Following getting the Braves to go three up and three down in the first, UNI's offense continued its spark with a leadoff single from Sanders. She would soon make her way home after subsequent singles from Parks and Dodge, benefiting on an obstruction call after Bradley's third baseman got within Sanders' running path.

The Panthers' scoring wasn't done there in the first as third baseman Brooke Snider doubled to center to score Parks. Dodge also made her way home on a ground out to third as UNI had the bases loaded following Snider's double. With three runs in the first inning alone, the Panthers continued their dominant MVC play over the next three innings.

UNI added on four runs in the bottom of the second thanks to two separate two-run homers. The first home run came from Pupillo on a deep ball into right field that also scored Sanders. Two batters later, Dodge hit almost to the exact same spot, scoring two runs on a bomb to right center. The Panthers' third home run of the day put them up by seven with their offense nowhere near done.

The best inning of offensive output for UNI came in the bottom of the third. The Panthers scored six runs on two hits, benefiting from three walks, three hit-by-pitches, and one fielder's choice. UNI's two hits were one right after the other in the third as Hogan singled to left and scored two runners.

The single was followed up by a stand-up double to right field from pinch hitter Addison McElrath, quickly bringing Hogan home. The Panthers' other three runs in the third came on two walks with the bases loaded and a ground out from Snider to second.

UNI tacked on five more runs in the bottom of the fifth to set a season-high of 18 runs. After two outs to start the inning Parks walked and moved into scoring position on a single to left field from Dodge. Neither runner scored on the next at-bat as third baseman Kate Lappe walked to load the bases. The Panthers then scored three runs with the bases loaded on a single and a double.

A single into right field by Hogan scored Parks while a double to left field by McElrath brought in Dodge and Lappe. With two runners in scoring position, pinch hitter Gretta Hartz walked to reload the bases for UNI. The Panthers brought in their final pinch hitter of the day in junior Ellie Owen, whose double to right center scored both Hogan and McElrath. With 18 runs under their belt, all the Panthers need to do to end the game early was get three outs.

UNI changed pitchers in the circle for the final inning as junior Hailey Sanders made her season debut. In four batters faced, Sanders threw one strikeout while allowing no hits and one walk in her first appearance of the year. The Panther defense picked up the final two outs of the game on a foul out behind the plate and a line out to third. UNI walked away from the weekend with their third Missouri Valley Conference sweep and grabbed its 20th win of the season.

Dodge led all hitters in the second game with three hits, four runs, and three RBIs. Hogan and McElrath had two hits each while five other Panthers had at least one hit. Dodge and Parks scored the majority of UNIs runs, combining for eight of the Panthers' 18 while Kylee Sanders had three. Three different players on UNI's roster had three RBIs in Dodge, Hogan, and McElrath.

In the circle, Heyer led the way with four innings pitched. In those four innings, the redshirt junior surrendered only two hits while picking up her sixth shutout of the season. Hailey Sanders pitched the final inning of the day for one strikeout, one walk, and no hits allowed.

UP NEXT:
The Panthers get to continue a brief home stretch by welcoming the Iowa State Cyclones to Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex. UNI played Iowa State twice already this year in the Doc Halverson Classic, losing both games to the Cyclones. The Panthers will look to get revenge outdoors on Tuesday, April 4. First pitch is currently scheduled for 4 p.m. on Tuesday in Cedar Falls.