University of Northern Iowa Athletics

Photo by: Missouri Valley Conference
Pupillo named MVC Newcomer of the Week for third-straight week
4/25/2023 2:05:00 PM | Softball
ST LOUIS --Â For the third week in a row and the fourth time this season, UNI softball's freshman catcher has earned weekly conference honors.
Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) staff have selected Alexis Pupillo as the Valley's Newcomer of the Week after her performances against Drake and Illinois State. With the season drawing to a close, Pupillo has been named MVC Newcomer of the Week more often than any other player new to the Valley. Only two other players have been Newcomer of the Week more than once, Maya Johnson of Belmont and Jackie Lis of Southern Illinois.
Pupillo continues to impress for the Panthers as the season draws to a close. Pupillo is on a 24-game hit streak after picking up eight hits in 15 at-bats against Drake and Illinois State, including three multi-hit games. Pupillo was the UNI leader at the plate in their 9-2 win over Drake in their only game this season at Ron Buel Field. With three hits and one run against the Bulldogs, Pupillo led the team that game with a .750 batting average.
Pupillo also continued to jump up the rankings in slugging percentage, having a multi-base hit in all four games last week. This included a lead-off triple on Sunday afternoon in the sixth inning to start the Panthers' big comeback win over Illinois State. For the week, Pupillo slashed .533/.611/.867 for an OPS of 1.478. On defense, she made 30 putouts behind the plate with one assist across four games.
UNI is back in action today against in-state rivals Drake for their final game of the season. First pitch from Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex is at 5 p.m. for the Panthers Pink Out game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the ballpark as UNI will wear their all-pink jerseys for the game.Â
Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) staff have selected Alexis Pupillo as the Valley's Newcomer of the Week after her performances against Drake and Illinois State. With the season drawing to a close, Pupillo has been named MVC Newcomer of the Week more often than any other player new to the Valley. Only two other players have been Newcomer of the Week more than once, Maya Johnson of Belmont and Jackie Lis of Southern Illinois.
Pupillo continues to impress for the Panthers as the season draws to a close. Pupillo is on a 24-game hit streak after picking up eight hits in 15 at-bats against Drake and Illinois State, including three multi-hit games. Pupillo was the UNI leader at the plate in their 9-2 win over Drake in their only game this season at Ron Buel Field. With three hits and one run against the Bulldogs, Pupillo led the team that game with a .750 batting average.
Pupillo also continued to jump up the rankings in slugging percentage, having a multi-base hit in all four games last week. This included a lead-off triple on Sunday afternoon in the sixth inning to start the Panthers' big comeback win over Illinois State. For the week, Pupillo slashed .533/.611/.867 for an OPS of 1.478. On defense, she made 30 putouts behind the plate with one assist across four games.
UNI is back in action today against in-state rivals Drake for their final game of the season. First pitch from Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex is at 5 p.m. for the Panthers Pink Out game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the ballpark as UNI will wear their all-pink jerseys for the game.Â
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