UNI softball sweeps Illinois State with late-game heroics

Sunday, April 23

Normal, IL

12 PM

University of Northern Iowa

30-11, 19-1

Illinois State University

25-20, 14-6

UNI

Illinois State

Photo by: Indiana State Athletics

UNI softball sweeps Illinois State with late-game heroics

4/23/2023 2:36:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

NORMAL, Ill. -- The final two innings of the weekend were the biggest two innings for the Panthers in their 6-3 win over the Illinois State Redbirds.

It looked like UNI would have only their second Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) loss of the season through five innings on Sunday afternoon. The Panther rallied for six runs in two innings including a four-run top of the seventh to snag their fifth series sweep of the year. Shortstop Kylee Sanders was again the late-game hero for UNI as she launched her second two-run homer of the weekend in the seventh to give the Panthers their first lead of the day.

The first half of Sunday's game was a pitchers dual between starter Samantha Heyer and Illinois State's Hannah Ross. Neither team made it past second base through the first three innings, but UNI picked up four hits while the Redbirds couldn't connect off Heyer. Heyer threw six strikeouts in nine batters keeping Illinois State subdued for 10 at-bats.

But the Redbirds struck first in the bottom of the fourth with a single run scored after a double and a single with a throwing error to bring the run home. The Panther defense quickly recovered, getting two outs in three at-bats with a strikeout for Heyer and a fielder's choice at second base. Illinois State didn't stop scoring there, taking a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth as they scored two runs on a hit and an error.

After five innings of connecting on hits but not scoring, UNI figured out the Redbird's Valley-leading defense in the top of the sixth. Catcher Alexis Pupillo led off the inning with a triple to right field followed by a walk to first for center fielder Madison Parks. Pupillo scored in the next at-bat as left fielder Mya Dodge hit only her second single of the series up the middle. In the sixth, the Panthers got within one run as Parks scored on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Taylor Hogan.

With the game close, UNI brought redshirt senior Kailyn Packard into the circle to relieve Heyer after five innings of work. In her first inning, Packard faced three batters and drew putouts for all three sending the Panthers to the final inning with a chance to take the game from Illinois State. And take the game UNI did as a single to center field by first baseman Daryn Lamprecht set up Sanders for a repeat home run performance.

Sanders launched the Panthers' only long ball of the day deep past right center scoring two runs and giving UNI its only lead. The one lead was all the Panthers needed to tack on more runs, as back-to-back walks and a wild pitch set up designated player Addison McElrath to bring more UNI runners home. McElrath connected on her second hit of the day with a double to left center that scored two more Panther runs, giving UNI a 6-3 lead with half an inning left.

The Panther defense closed out the game quickly in the bottom of the seventh with three infield plays. UNI made plays on a ground out, a lineout, and a pop-out to win Sunday afternoon's game 6-3. The Panthers had hits up and down the lineup in their series finale, as seven players recorded a hit. Four players, Sanders, Pupillo, Dodge, and McElrath, had two hits on the day, while Hogan, Snider, and Lamprecht added one each. In the circle Packard picked up her 10th win of the season as she faced the minimum amount of batters in her relief performance.

UP NEXT:
UNI returns home for their final game of the year against in-state rival Drake for the third of three midweek matchups. First pitch for Tuesday's game is set for 5 p.m. from Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex.