UNI softball awarded for record season with MVC Post Season Awards
5/10/2023 8:10:00 AM | Softball
ST LOUIS – Nine Panthers have been named to All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) teams while four earned specialty awards for the 2023 season.
For the second year in a row, UNI Softball has the MVC Player of the Year and the MVC Freshman of the Year on their roster. The Panthers also collected their second MVC Pitcher of the Year award in three seasons and their third straight MVC Coaching Staff of the Year award.
Coaching Staff of the Year
Ryan Jacobs, Monica Wright, and Garrett Furnal
For the second year in a row, the Panther coaching staff of Ryan Jacobs, Monica Wright, and Garrett Furnal continue to elevate UNI Softball. Under their direction, the Panthers had one of their best seasons in program history, setting 11 separate new records. This includes setting new Missouri Valley Conference records in team runs (342) and team doubles (95). This is the fifth time since taking over the program in 2008 that Head Coach Ryan Jacobs has headed the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year.
MVC Player of the Year/ First Team All-MVC
OF - Mya Dodge
After making waves in her freshman season as the 2022 MVC Freshman of the Year, outfielder Mya Dodge only got better at the plate and in the field in 2023. As the starting left fielder for the Panthers, Dodge settled into the cleanup spot in UNI's lineup leading the team in slugging percentage (.903), RBIs (67), triples (5), home runs (16), and sacrifice flies (4). Dodge upped her batting average by 20% in her sophomore season and brought in double the amount of runs to lead the nation in RBIs per game. Out in the field in her first full season on defense, Dodge had a .979 fielding percentage with 47 putouts. Dodge was named the MVC Player of the Week twice this season on April 4th and April 18th.
MVC Pitcher of the Year/ First Team All-MVC
P - Samantha Heyer
Redshirt junior Samantha Heyer found a new level in the circle in 2023, going from the Panthers' no. two pitcher to a national name among D1 college pitchers. Over the 2023 season, Heyer lowered her ERA by 0.53 while dropping her walks from over 1.5 a game to just over 1 walk through seven innings. Heyer capped off her breakout season in a big way with UNI's first perfect game in nine years taking down 15 batters in order with 10 strikeouts. Through her stellar season, Heyer set a new Panther record for most strikeouts in a season at 252. Heyer ends the season ranked in the Top 25 nationally in hits allowed per seven innings (4.12), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.81), strikeouts (252), strikeouts per game (11.2), and victories (22). Heyer also set a UNI record for most weekly honors from the MVC, being named the Pitcher of the Week on six separate occasions. Heyer was the MVC Pitcher of the Week for a month straight from March 14th through April 4th.
MVC Freshman of the Year/ First Team All-MVC
C- Alexis Pupillo
In her first year as a Panther, catcher Alexis Pupillo has held down two important positions in UNI's lineup as the second hitter and behind the plate. Pupillo has quickly become a star at the plate, leading both the Missouri Valley Conference and the Panthers in batting average (.416), on-base percentage (.505), and total bases (127). With her confidence hitting, Pupillo has been the second UNI player named to the Tucci/NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 25 list. Along with her power at the plate, Pupillo has been a strong defensive presence for the Panthers behind the plate. Pupillo leads the conference in putouts (421) making her a dual threat for UNI for the next three years.
First Team All-MVC/ All-Defensive Team
OF- Madison Parks
After receiving her first All-MVC honors in 2022, center fielder Madison Parks has elevated her game at the plate and in the field. Parks is the only Panther starter with a perfect fielding percentage, making multiple highlight-reel catches through 49 games this season. Parks made 53 catches at center with 51 putouts and two assists. Along with her defensive output, Parks improved both at the plate and on the base paths in 2023. Parks is third on UNI's roster in batting average at .343 and led the team in walks (34) and stolen bases (21). Parks is nationally ranked for walks per game, stolen bases, and stolen bases per game while leading the MVC in walks per game at 0.69.
First Team All-MVC
2B - Taylor Hogan
For the second season in a row, Hogan has made the All-MVC First team after another big year for UNI. On the Panther roster, Hogan is the toughest batter to strike out, making national rankings at 17.8 with only six strikeouts on the season. With more appearances for UNI than ever before, Hogan added 37 runs and 45 hits to her career total. This also includes her best year for RBIs, bringing 29 Panther runners home. Hogan is also one of only three Panthers to hit a grand slam this year, capping off a 17-run win against Murray State on March 18th Hogan also wrapped up her last season as a two-sport athlete at UNI, competing as a diver with the Panthers swim and dive team at MVC's and NCAA Zones.
First Team All-MVC
3B - Brooke Snider
In her final season as a Panther, Snider found a new level at the plate having her first year above .300. The redshirt senior was one of the team leaders in slugging performance with a .662 slugging percentage with 12 home runs and nine doubles. Snider particularly shined during Valley play, upping her batting average to .392 and her slugging percentage to .757. Along with her success at the plate, Snider returned to form in the field as UNI's starting third baseman. She ended the season with a .903 fielding percentage with 28 putouts and 56 assists. Snider was also part of a double play for the Panthers, one of only eight this season.
First Team All-MVC
DP/UT - Addison McElrath
McElrath stepped into the designated player spot midway through UNI's season and never left as she excelled in the lineup for the Panthers. In her first full year starting for UNI, McElrath put up an impressive .458 batting average and 1.347 OPS. The sophomore was one of two players that connected on 10 doubles during the MVC season and put up 13 through 35 games in 2023. McElrath also excelled at getting on base, leading the Panthers with a .541 on-base percentage. McElrath set multiple career-highs this season including hits in a game with three against Southern Illinois, two doubles in a game against Indiana State, and three RBIs in a separate game against the Sycamores.
Second Team All-MVC
SS - Kylee Sanders
In her second year with the Panthers, Sanders grew her game at the plate and in the field. Sanders led all UNI players in runs scored as the Panthers' leadoff batter with 54 runs over 49 games. She also led UNI in one other category being the player with the most bases on a hit-by-pitch. The lefty was hit 17 times this season while at the plate, putting her eighth in the nation with a 0.35 average. This season Sanders was in the top five Panthers in hits (47), doubles (12), triples (2), home runs (6), total bases (81), walks (24), and stolen bases (10). The sophomore also set career highs in doubles a game with two against Western Carolina. In the field, Sanders had a .950 fielding percentage with 47 putouts, 68 assists, and helping with seven double plays.
Second Team All-MVC
P - Kailyn Packard
For her final year in the circle, Packard continued to hold down UNI's starting rotation. Moving into more of a reliever role, the redshirt senior picked up 13 wins and two saves including a save against Iowa in the Panthers' first win over the Hawkeyes in five years. For the year, Packard is nationally ranked in strikeouts and strikeouts per inning with 140 K's this year. Along with Heyer, Packard helped set a new UNI record for most strikeouts in a year as the Panther pitching staff struck out 419 batters. Packard also excelled when the ball came her way off the bat with 15 catches, 12 assists, and one putout.
For the second year in a row, UNI Softball has the MVC Player of the Year and the MVC Freshman of the Year on their roster. The Panthers also collected their second MVC Pitcher of the Year award in three seasons and their third straight MVC Coaching Staff of the Year award.
Coaching Staff of the Year
Ryan Jacobs, Monica Wright, and Garrett Furnal
For the second year in a row, the Panther coaching staff of Ryan Jacobs, Monica Wright, and Garrett Furnal continue to elevate UNI Softball. Under their direction, the Panthers had one of their best seasons in program history, setting 11 separate new records. This includes setting new Missouri Valley Conference records in team runs (342) and team doubles (95). This is the fifth time since taking over the program in 2008 that Head Coach Ryan Jacobs has headed the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year.
MVC Player of the Year/ First Team All-MVC
OF - Mya Dodge
After making waves in her freshman season as the 2022 MVC Freshman of the Year, outfielder Mya Dodge only got better at the plate and in the field in 2023. As the starting left fielder for the Panthers, Dodge settled into the cleanup spot in UNI's lineup leading the team in slugging percentage (.903), RBIs (67), triples (5), home runs (16), and sacrifice flies (4). Dodge upped her batting average by 20% in her sophomore season and brought in double the amount of runs to lead the nation in RBIs per game. Out in the field in her first full season on defense, Dodge had a .979 fielding percentage with 47 putouts. Dodge was named the MVC Player of the Week twice this season on April 4th and April 18th.
MVC Pitcher of the Year/ First Team All-MVC
P - Samantha Heyer
Redshirt junior Samantha Heyer found a new level in the circle in 2023, going from the Panthers' no. two pitcher to a national name among D1 college pitchers. Over the 2023 season, Heyer lowered her ERA by 0.53 while dropping her walks from over 1.5 a game to just over 1 walk through seven innings. Heyer capped off her breakout season in a big way with UNI's first perfect game in nine years taking down 15 batters in order with 10 strikeouts. Through her stellar season, Heyer set a new Panther record for most strikeouts in a season at 252. Heyer ends the season ranked in the Top 25 nationally in hits allowed per seven innings (4.12), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.81), strikeouts (252), strikeouts per game (11.2), and victories (22). Heyer also set a UNI record for most weekly honors from the MVC, being named the Pitcher of the Week on six separate occasions. Heyer was the MVC Pitcher of the Week for a month straight from March 14th through April 4th.
MVC Freshman of the Year/ First Team All-MVC
C- Alexis Pupillo
In her first year as a Panther, catcher Alexis Pupillo has held down two important positions in UNI's lineup as the second hitter and behind the plate. Pupillo has quickly become a star at the plate, leading both the Missouri Valley Conference and the Panthers in batting average (.416), on-base percentage (.505), and total bases (127). With her confidence hitting, Pupillo has been the second UNI player named to the Tucci/NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 25 list. Along with her power at the plate, Pupillo has been a strong defensive presence for the Panthers behind the plate. Pupillo leads the conference in putouts (421) making her a dual threat for UNI for the next three years.
First Team All-MVC/ All-Defensive Team
OF- Madison Parks
After receiving her first All-MVC honors in 2022, center fielder Madison Parks has elevated her game at the plate and in the field. Parks is the only Panther starter with a perfect fielding percentage, making multiple highlight-reel catches through 49 games this season. Parks made 53 catches at center with 51 putouts and two assists. Along with her defensive output, Parks improved both at the plate and on the base paths in 2023. Parks is third on UNI's roster in batting average at .343 and led the team in walks (34) and stolen bases (21). Parks is nationally ranked for walks per game, stolen bases, and stolen bases per game while leading the MVC in walks per game at 0.69.
First Team All-MVC
2B - Taylor Hogan
For the second season in a row, Hogan has made the All-MVC First team after another big year for UNI. On the Panther roster, Hogan is the toughest batter to strike out, making national rankings at 17.8 with only six strikeouts on the season. With more appearances for UNI than ever before, Hogan added 37 runs and 45 hits to her career total. This also includes her best year for RBIs, bringing 29 Panther runners home. Hogan is also one of only three Panthers to hit a grand slam this year, capping off a 17-run win against Murray State on March 18th Hogan also wrapped up her last season as a two-sport athlete at UNI, competing as a diver with the Panthers swim and dive team at MVC's and NCAA Zones.
First Team All-MVC
3B - Brooke Snider
In her final season as a Panther, Snider found a new level at the plate having her first year above .300. The redshirt senior was one of the team leaders in slugging performance with a .662 slugging percentage with 12 home runs and nine doubles. Snider particularly shined during Valley play, upping her batting average to .392 and her slugging percentage to .757. Along with her success at the plate, Snider returned to form in the field as UNI's starting third baseman. She ended the season with a .903 fielding percentage with 28 putouts and 56 assists. Snider was also part of a double play for the Panthers, one of only eight this season.
First Team All-MVC
DP/UT - Addison McElrath
McElrath stepped into the designated player spot midway through UNI's season and never left as she excelled in the lineup for the Panthers. In her first full year starting for UNI, McElrath put up an impressive .458 batting average and 1.347 OPS. The sophomore was one of two players that connected on 10 doubles during the MVC season and put up 13 through 35 games in 2023. McElrath also excelled at getting on base, leading the Panthers with a .541 on-base percentage. McElrath set multiple career-highs this season including hits in a game with three against Southern Illinois, two doubles in a game against Indiana State, and three RBIs in a separate game against the Sycamores.
Second Team All-MVC
SS - Kylee Sanders
In her second year with the Panthers, Sanders grew her game at the plate and in the field. Sanders led all UNI players in runs scored as the Panthers' leadoff batter with 54 runs over 49 games. She also led UNI in one other category being the player with the most bases on a hit-by-pitch. The lefty was hit 17 times this season while at the plate, putting her eighth in the nation with a 0.35 average. This season Sanders was in the top five Panthers in hits (47), doubles (12), triples (2), home runs (6), total bases (81), walks (24), and stolen bases (10). The sophomore also set career highs in doubles a game with two against Western Carolina. In the field, Sanders had a .950 fielding percentage with 47 putouts, 68 assists, and helping with seven double plays.
Second Team All-MVC
P - Kailyn Packard
For her final year in the circle, Packard continued to hold down UNI's starting rotation. Moving into more of a reliever role, the redshirt senior picked up 13 wins and two saves including a save against Iowa in the Panthers' first win over the Hawkeyes in five years. For the year, Packard is nationally ranked in strikeouts and strikeouts per inning with 140 K's this year. Along with Heyer, Packard helped set a new UNI record for most strikeouts in a year as the Panther pitching staff struck out 419 batters. Packard also excelled when the ball came her way off the bat with 15 catches, 12 assists, and one putout.
Players Mentioned
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3B/C/UT
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