Saturday, April 29
Cedar Falls, Iowa
12 PM
University of Northern Iowa
34-11, 23-1
9
vs
0
Valparaiso University
8-37, 4-20
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Valparaiso Beacons
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Northern Iowa
2
0
7
0
X
9
11
0
Photo by: © KehlexisLLC
UNI softball clinches portion of MVC Regular Season title against Valparaiso
4/29/2023 2:44:00 PM | Softball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Panthers' record-breaking season continued Saturday afternoon in a 9-0 shutout of the Valparaiso Beacons.
UNI took its seventh Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) series sweep this weekend after taking three games from the Beacons. Along the way, the Panthers set season records in five different categories, including runs scored (313), doubles (84), home runs (68), batters struck out (387), and conference wins (23). UNI also captured at least a share of the MVC Regular Season title on Saturday in its shutout win of Valparaiso, marking the earliest clinch of some the season title for the Panthers since 2012. This is UNI's first back-to-back regular season titles in program history after also winning the conference regular season in 2022.Â
Starting pitcher Samantha Heyer added to her record season in the circle early on Saturday. Heyer threw three-straight strikeouts to kick off the noon matchup, setting up UNI's hitters going into the bottom of the first. The Panther offense quickly got going, scoring their first run during their third at-bat. After a single to right center from catcher Alexis Pupillo, outfielder Madison Parks hit her first triple of the season into right field. Parks then scored two batters later as designated player Addison McElrath put a long single into right center.Â
UNI added a fourth hit and a walk in the bottom of the first but didn't bring another run home. The Panther offense was soon back up to bat as the defense took down the Beacons in order. Pupillo went two-for-two with a double to right center as UNI's only hit in the second. But that wouldn't be the case for the bottom of the third as the Panther offense exploded for five hits and seven runs in 12 at-bats.Â
After another quick top of the inning, outfielder Mya Dodge hit UNI's first home run of the day to set a new season record for team home runs. The bomb by the sophomore outfielder past center field was the Panthers' 67th of the season, breaking their previous record from last year of 66 home runs. UNI's next two batters reached base due to Valparaiso's mental mistakes with a hit by pitch and a blown fielder's choice to second. This set up third baseman Brooke Snider for her 11th home run of the season and her second multi-run homer in as many games.Â
Snider launched a strike past the Panther batting cages behind right field, scoring three more runs to make it a six-nothing game. Two more UNI batters made it on base with a walk and a single by first baseman Daryn Lamprecht to center field. Lamprecht's single turned into three bases for the infielder as the Beacon's center fielder couldn't scoop up the ball after it dropped to get an out on the base paths. The Panthers quickly added another run on their next at-bat as Sanders lined out to right field for a sacrifice play, scoring Lamprecht for run eight.
UNI's final run also came in the bottom of the third after the Panthers batted through their full order. Singles from Pupillo and Parks had two runners on with only one out for Dodge. In her second-round at-bat that inning Dodge connected on a ball to short, bringing home Pupillo for UNI's ninth run.Â
The final inning and a half went quickly for the Panthers as Heyer allowed one hit and added two more strikeouts to her total for the day. UNI loaded up the bases in the bottom of the fourth but didn't bring anyone home, with only one hit that inning. Up by nine and with a run-rule win on the horizon, redshirt senior Kailyn Packard stepped into the circle. While she didn't throw a strikeout, Packard forced three straight outs for her Panther defense, ending the game two-inning early.Â
Pupillo led all UNI batters at the plate with three hits on the day. Parks also had a multi-hit day with two, while six other players added hits for the Panthers' 11. Pupillo was also the only player to score twice on Saturday, while Snider led the team in RBIs with three. In the circle Heyer picked up her MVC-leading 21st win of the year. In four innings pitched, Heyer allowed a single hit, no runs, and one walk while throwing eight strikeouts.Â
UP NEXT:
UNI plays its final non-conference game of the season Wednesday evening. The Panthers travel to Iowa City to play the Iowa Hawkeyes in their final road game of the year. First pitch from Bob Pearl Softball Field is set for 5 p.m.Â
UNI took its seventh Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) series sweep this weekend after taking three games from the Beacons. Along the way, the Panthers set season records in five different categories, including runs scored (313), doubles (84), home runs (68), batters struck out (387), and conference wins (23). UNI also captured at least a share of the MVC Regular Season title on Saturday in its shutout win of Valparaiso, marking the earliest clinch of some the season title for the Panthers since 2012. This is UNI's first back-to-back regular season titles in program history after also winning the conference regular season in 2022.Â
Starting pitcher Samantha Heyer added to her record season in the circle early on Saturday. Heyer threw three-straight strikeouts to kick off the noon matchup, setting up UNI's hitters going into the bottom of the first. The Panther offense quickly got going, scoring their first run during their third at-bat. After a single to right center from catcher Alexis Pupillo, outfielder Madison Parks hit her first triple of the season into right field. Parks then scored two batters later as designated player Addison McElrath put a long single into right center.Â
UNI added a fourth hit and a walk in the bottom of the first but didn't bring another run home. The Panther offense was soon back up to bat as the defense took down the Beacons in order. Pupillo went two-for-two with a double to right center as UNI's only hit in the second. But that wouldn't be the case for the bottom of the third as the Panther offense exploded for five hits and seven runs in 12 at-bats.Â
After another quick top of the inning, outfielder Mya Dodge hit UNI's first home run of the day to set a new season record for team home runs. The bomb by the sophomore outfielder past center field was the Panthers' 67th of the season, breaking their previous record from last year of 66 home runs. UNI's next two batters reached base due to Valparaiso's mental mistakes with a hit by pitch and a blown fielder's choice to second. This set up third baseman Brooke Snider for her 11th home run of the season and her second multi-run homer in as many games.Â
Snider launched a strike past the Panther batting cages behind right field, scoring three more runs to make it a six-nothing game. Two more UNI batters made it on base with a walk and a single by first baseman Daryn Lamprecht to center field. Lamprecht's single turned into three bases for the infielder as the Beacon's center fielder couldn't scoop up the ball after it dropped to get an out on the base paths. The Panthers quickly added another run on their next at-bat as Sanders lined out to right field for a sacrifice play, scoring Lamprecht for run eight.
UNI's final run also came in the bottom of the third after the Panthers batted through their full order. Singles from Pupillo and Parks had two runners on with only one out for Dodge. In her second-round at-bat that inning Dodge connected on a ball to short, bringing home Pupillo for UNI's ninth run.Â
The final inning and a half went quickly for the Panthers as Heyer allowed one hit and added two more strikeouts to her total for the day. UNI loaded up the bases in the bottom of the fourth but didn't bring anyone home, with only one hit that inning. Up by nine and with a run-rule win on the horizon, redshirt senior Kailyn Packard stepped into the circle. While she didn't throw a strikeout, Packard forced three straight outs for her Panther defense, ending the game two-inning early.Â
Pupillo led all UNI batters at the plate with three hits on the day. Parks also had a multi-hit day with two, while six other players added hits for the Panthers' 11. Pupillo was also the only player to score twice on Saturday, while Snider led the team in RBIs with three. In the circle Heyer picked up her MVC-leading 21st win of the year. In four innings pitched, Heyer allowed a single hit, no runs, and one walk while throwing eight strikeouts.Â
UP NEXT:
UNI plays its final non-conference game of the season Wednesday evening. The Panthers travel to Iowa City to play the Iowa Hawkeyes in their final road game of the year. First pitch from Bob Pearl Softball Field is set for 5 p.m.Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Heyer, Samantha (21-4)
L: Kowalski, Caitlyn (2-17)
Base Running:
SB: Hecker, Regi 1
Batting:
2B: Pupillo, Alexis 1
3B: Parks, Madison 1
HR: Dodge, Mya 1 ; Snider, Brooke 1
RBI: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Parks, Madison 1 ; Dodge, Mya 2 ; McElrath, Addison 1 ; Snider, Brooke 3 ; Lamprecht, Daryn 1
SF: Sanders, Kylee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pupillo, Alexis 2 ; Parks, Madison 1 ; Dodge, Mya 1 ; McElrath, Addison 1 ; Hogan, Taylor 1 ; Snider, Brooke 1 ; Hartz, Gretta 1 ; Lamprecht, Daryn 1
SB: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Moss, Sammy 1 ; Hartz, Gretta 1
HBP: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; McElrath, Addison 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
1B/3B/C
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballUT/P
/ Softball3B/C/UT
/ Softball
IF
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