UNI softball set for noon starts against Valparaiso this weekend

UNI softball vs. Valparaiso

12 p.m. | April 28
Cedar Falls, Iowa | Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex
ESPN+ | Eric Braley: Play-by-play, Brian Erbe: Analyst

UNI softball vs. Valparaiso

12 p.m. | April 29
Cedar Falls, Iowa | Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex
ESPN3 | Eric Braley: Play-by-play, Brian Erbe: Anyalyst

UNI softball vs. Valparaiso

12 p.m. | April 28
Cedar Falls, Iowa | Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex
ESPN+ | David Warrington: Play-by-play, Brain Erbe: Analyst

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Panthers will go for their 11th straight win on Friday afternoon in an early game.

Due to rain projected in the late afternoon and evening on both Friday and Saturday, UNI softball has elected to move its weekend series up to a noon start time for all three games. The Panthers welcome the Valparaiso Beacons to Robinson-Dresser for the first time since early April of 2021. UNI won all three games that weekend and hopes to do the same in its noon matchups Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

THE PANTHERS:
- UNI moved up to get its sixth Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) sweep with a midweek win over the Drake Bulldogs. The Panther offense took care of business in the sixth inning, scoring six runs to give UNI a run-rule win over the Bulldogs.
- The Panthers hit two Missouri Valley Conference records on Tuesday evening against Drake for team scoring and team doubles against other Valley opponents. UNI has scored 188 runs in conference play so far this season, breaking the former record of 178 set by the Panthers in 2021. They also broke the team double record of 44 with 45 MVC doubles with six games left to go in the season.
- Along with Missouri Valley Conference team records, sophomore outfielder Mya Dodge set a program record on Tuesday night. With a two-RBI double in the third inning and a four RBI grand slam in the sixth, Dodge set the Panther record for most runs batted in during a single season at 61. The previous record was set by outfielder Rachel Gerking in 2009 with 59 RBIs.
- The Panthers are nearing several program records as the 2023 season comes to a close in two weeks. UNI could set records in runs scored (312), team doubles (81), and home runs (66) anytime in the next two weeks. Averaging seven runs a game, the Panthers could break their runs scored record this weekend against Valparaiso.

THE BEACONS:
- Valparaiso comes into this weekend's series with an overall record of 8-34 and a Missouri Valley Conference record of 4-17. The Beacons picked up two wins against both the Bradley Braves and the UIC Flames in Valley play so far this year.
- This is the Beacons' final weekend on the road in the regular season. Valpo gets to wrap up conference play next weekend at home in a three-game series against the Indiana State Sycamores.
- Valparaiso clinched the season series victory over UIC at the Valpo Softball Complex on Wednesday with a 4-0 win over the Flames. The Beacons went on to drop the three-game series against Drake over the weekend. Valpo then lost their final game of the series to UIC on a sacrifice fly at Flames Field.
- The Beacons are led by fifth-year shortstop Taylor Herschbach who is currently on a five-game hitting streak and an 11-game on-base streak. Not only is that a new career best for Herschbach, but it is also the longest stretch by any Valpo player this year and ties the longest by a Valpo player over the last four seasons.

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