Sunday, May 7
Cedar Falls, Iowa
12 PM
University of Northern Iowa
38-11, 26-1
9
vs
1
University of Evansville
22-31, 8-19
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Evansville
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
Northern Iowa
3
0
6
0
X
9
7
0
UNI softball ends regular season with 9-1 win over Evansville
5/7/2023 2:53:00 PM | Softball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Two more program records were broken by the Panthers on Sunday in a big Senior Day win over the Evansville Purple Aces to close out the 2023 regular season.
With 17 consecutive wins and 26 Missouri Valley Conference wins with Sunday's 9-1 win, UNI has set two new program records. The Panthers broke the conference win record of 24 set last season on Saturday and then the consecutive win record on Sunday. UNI also celebrated their three seniors during Sunday's game as the team started pitcher Kailyn Packard, third baseman Brooke Snider, and right fielder Hannah Kelley. The Panthers head into the MVC Championship Tournament in Carbondale, Ill., as the top seed with a 26-1 Valley record and a 38-11 overall season record.
Redshirt senior Kailyn Packard started Sunday's game hot by striking out the side in her final game at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex. UNI's offense followed that up with three runs on one hit in the bottom of the first to take the early lead. Designated player Addison McElrath had the Panthers' only hit of the first inning, a double to center field that scored two runs. UNI's first run came on a wild pitch as shortstop Kylee Sanders crossed home after two walks and a sacrifice bunt.Â
Evansville answered with its only run of the weekend in the top of the second on a long single into center field. The Panthers didn't respond in the inning despite Kelley leading off with a single into center field. But after another 1-2-3 inning for UNI's defense in the third, the Panthers added to their lead in the bottom of the inning.
Despite two outs to start the third, a walk for McElrath and a single to center by second baseman Taylor Hogan set up Snider for a monster at-bat. The redshirt senior let four pitches go by before connecting on UNI's only home run of the day past left center field. The three-run homer in Snider's final game at Robinson-Dresser gave the Panthers a comfortable 6-1 lead midway through the third.
But UNI wasn't done there, as the team was galvanized by the home run to make three straight hits after the play. This included Kelley's second hit of the day, a double into left-center for a perfect day at the plate. The Panthers scored their seventh run on a single by first baseman Daryn Lamprecht, that brought pinch-runner Gretta Hartz home. UNI scored two more runs in the third with the bases loaded on two singles and a hit-by-pitch.
With the bases loaded, the Aces swapped pitchers to try and end the inning. But two straight walks to outfielder Madison Parks and Mya Dodge gave the Panthers two more runs for pinch runner Addy Reynolds and Sanders. UNI didn't score another run in Sunday's game but didn't need to as Packard had her third three up and three down inning of the day facing Evansville's batters.Â
The Panthers had their only 1-2-3 inning on offense to end the fourth. With an eight-run lead going into the top of the fifth, UNI was looking for three outs to end the game by NCAA run rule. Packard drew two outs in the field before retiring for the day to a standing ovation at Robinson-Dresser. Sophomore Anna Wischnowski threw to the final three batters of the day.Â
The Aces tried to move the game to another inning with two runners on base and one in scoring position. But Parks made a jumping catch at the outfield fence to end the game, her second game-ending play in three days.Â
Kelley was the only Panther with multiple hits on the day, going a perfect two-for-two at the plate. Five other UNI batters added hits for seven on the day, while Sanders was the only runner to score twice. Snider led the team in RBIs with her three-run homer in the bottom of the third. Packard picked up her 13th win of the season in 4.2 innings of work with one hit, one run, no walks, and nine strikeouts.Â
UP NEXT:
UNI heads to the Missouri Valley Championship next week, with its first game set for Thursday morning. The Panthers will play the winner of the Drake and Evansville game on Wednesday, May 10 at 10 a.m. UNI's Thursday game against either team is also set for a 10 a.m. first pitch.Â
With 17 consecutive wins and 26 Missouri Valley Conference wins with Sunday's 9-1 win, UNI has set two new program records. The Panthers broke the conference win record of 24 set last season on Saturday and then the consecutive win record on Sunday. UNI also celebrated their three seniors during Sunday's game as the team started pitcher Kailyn Packard, third baseman Brooke Snider, and right fielder Hannah Kelley. The Panthers head into the MVC Championship Tournament in Carbondale, Ill., as the top seed with a 26-1 Valley record and a 38-11 overall season record.
Redshirt senior Kailyn Packard started Sunday's game hot by striking out the side in her final game at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex. UNI's offense followed that up with three runs on one hit in the bottom of the first to take the early lead. Designated player Addison McElrath had the Panthers' only hit of the first inning, a double to center field that scored two runs. UNI's first run came on a wild pitch as shortstop Kylee Sanders crossed home after two walks and a sacrifice bunt.Â
Evansville answered with its only run of the weekend in the top of the second on a long single into center field. The Panthers didn't respond in the inning despite Kelley leading off with a single into center field. But after another 1-2-3 inning for UNI's defense in the third, the Panthers added to their lead in the bottom of the inning.
Despite two outs to start the third, a walk for McElrath and a single to center by second baseman Taylor Hogan set up Snider for a monster at-bat. The redshirt senior let four pitches go by before connecting on UNI's only home run of the day past left center field. The three-run homer in Snider's final game at Robinson-Dresser gave the Panthers a comfortable 6-1 lead midway through the third.
But UNI wasn't done there, as the team was galvanized by the home run to make three straight hits after the play. This included Kelley's second hit of the day, a double into left-center for a perfect day at the plate. The Panthers scored their seventh run on a single by first baseman Daryn Lamprecht, that brought pinch-runner Gretta Hartz home. UNI scored two more runs in the third with the bases loaded on two singles and a hit-by-pitch.
With the bases loaded, the Aces swapped pitchers to try and end the inning. But two straight walks to outfielder Madison Parks and Mya Dodge gave the Panthers two more runs for pinch runner Addy Reynolds and Sanders. UNI didn't score another run in Sunday's game but didn't need to as Packard had her third three up and three down inning of the day facing Evansville's batters.Â
The Panthers had their only 1-2-3 inning on offense to end the fourth. With an eight-run lead going into the top of the fifth, UNI was looking for three outs to end the game by NCAA run rule. Packard drew two outs in the field before retiring for the day to a standing ovation at Robinson-Dresser. Sophomore Anna Wischnowski threw to the final three batters of the day.Â
The Aces tried to move the game to another inning with two runners on base and one in scoring position. But Parks made a jumping catch at the outfield fence to end the game, her second game-ending play in three days.Â
Kelley was the only Panther with multiple hits on the day, going a perfect two-for-two at the plate. Five other UNI batters added hits for seven on the day, while Sanders was the only runner to score twice. Snider led the team in RBIs with her three-run homer in the bottom of the third. Packard picked up her 13th win of the season in 4.2 innings of work with one hit, one run, no walks, and nine strikeouts.Â
UP NEXT:
UNI heads to the Missouri Valley Championship next week, with its first game set for Thursday morning. The Panthers will play the winner of the Drake and Evansville game on Wednesday, May 10 at 10 a.m. UNI's Thursday game against either team is also set for a 10 a.m. first pitch.Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Packard, Kailyn (13-5)
L: Brenton, Megan (5-6)
Batting:
RBI: Frossard, Zoe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Davis, Alexa 1
SB: Davis, Alexa 1
HBP: Davis, Alexa 1 ; McCorkle, Brooke 1
Batting:
2B: McElrath, Addison 1 ; Kelley, Hannah 1
HR: Snider, Brooke 1
RBI: Parks, Madison 1 ; Dodge, Mya 1 ; McElrath, Addison 2 ; Snider, Brooke 3 ; Lamprecht, Daryn 1
SH: Parks, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sanders, Kylee 2 ; Pupillo, Alexis 1 ; Dodge, Mya 1 ; McElrath, Addison 1 ; Hogan, Taylor 1 ; Snider, Brooke 1 ; Hartz, Gretta 1 ; Reynolds, Adalyn 1
SB: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Dodge, Mya 1 ; Erpelding, Maggie 1
HBP: Pupillo, Alexis 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF/UT
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballP/IF
/ Softball
1B/3B/C
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UT/P
/ Softball
IF/UT
/ SoftballUT/IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P/1B
/ SoftballUNI volleyball tops Iowa State at home
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UNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 2)
Wednesday, September 03