UNI softball splits games against SEMO, No. 24 Auburn in final day of Plainsman Invite

Sunday, February 25

Auburn, Ala.

11 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

8-2

Southeast Missouri State

4-9

UNI

SEMO

UNI softball at 2024 Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic | Feb. 9-11, 2024 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

UNI softball splits games against SEMO, No. 24 Auburn in final day of Plainsman Invite

2/25/2024 4:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 FINAL RESULTS (SEMO)FINAL RESULTS (Auburn)

Panthers return to action on Wednesday against UAB

AUBURN, Alabama --- UNI softball finished play in Auburn's Plainsman Invite on Sunday, beating Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) 9-6 and falling to No. 24 Auburn 1-0. The Panthers extended their winning streak to five games before dropping a tight contest against the Tigers to round out the weekend.

The Panthers struck both early and late to take down the Redhawks in the first game of the afternoon. UNI jumped out to a six-run lead before SEMO cut the deficit to one run on two separate occasions. However, the Panthers put the game away with two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, and a stellar relief effort from Anna Wischnowski helped secure the 9-6 win.

UNI was unable to translate that offense to its second contest of the day against No. 24 Auburn. Reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Maddie Penta held the Panthers hitless, and a second-inning sacrifice bunt proved the difference in a 1-0 victory.

The Panthers now sit at 8-3 ahead of another busy week of action next week.

Game 1 | UNI 9 - SEMO 6

For the second consecutive game against the Redhawks, UNI got off to a quick start. Alexis Pupillo and Kylee Sanders singled to start the game and, after Madison Parks moved both up a base with a bunt, Addison McElrath drilled a two-RBI single up the middle to open the scoring.

Kate Lappe kept things moving with an RBI double to center field that extended UNI's lead to 3-0, and Savanna Jemilo rounded out the inning with a single that scored Lappe from second base.

Kara Maiers received the start in the circle for the Panthers on Saturday morning and worked a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the first. Saturday morning's appearance marked the first start of Maiers' UNI career.

UNI's offense got back to work in the top of the second inning. Daryn Lamprecht reached on an error to start the inning then Gretta Hartz, pinch-running for Lamprecht, swiped second base. A Sanders walk put two runners on, and the runners moved into scoring position after a groundout from Pupillo.

Parks brought home the Panthers' fifth run of the contest with a groundout to shortstop, then Sanders scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-0.

The Panthers' offense went cold, though, as UNI recorded just one hit over the next three innings while the Redhawks mounted a rally.

Kat Sackett led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run off Maiers. Maiers retired the next SEMO batter, but back-to-back hits ultimately chased her from the contest as Wischnowski was summoned from the bullpen.

SEMO's Paige Halliwill greeted Wischnowski with an RBI single, then a walk issued to Aubrie Shore loaded the bases. Wischnowski struck out the next SEMO batter for the second out of the inning, but a passed ball, walk and a two-RBI single in quick succession cut UNI's lead to 6-5.

Neither side could add a run in the fourth or fifth innings, but the Panthers got a crucial insurance run in the top of the sixth. With a runner at second base and one out, pinch hitter Ellie Owen drove home a key RBI with a single to center field that scored Taylor Hogan. Owen's first RBI of the 2024 season would ultimately stand as the game-winning RBI and gave the Panthers a 7-5 lead.

SEMO answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Panthers put the game away in the top of the seventh. Parks began the inning with a single, then Lappe ripped a one-out triple to center field that scored Parks. Lappe's triple marked the first of her collegiate career and extended UNI's lead to 8-6.

Hogan provided another insurance run with a single that scored Lappe. With a three-run lead entering the bottom of the seventh, Wischnowski secured her first collegiate save by striking out the side. Wischnowski went the final 4.2 innings of Saturday morning's contest, recording seven strikeouts and allowing three runs on six hits.

Wischnowski's 101-pitch performance, done less than a day after a 123-pitch complete game against No. 24 Auburn, was paramount as the Panthers picked up their eighth victory of the 2024 season.

Game 2 | UNI 0 - No. 24 Auburn 1

The final game of the Plainsman Invite was a classic pitchers' duel between Penta and Samantha Heyer. Penta struck out the side in the top of the first inning, and Auburn recorded one of its two hits for the entire contest in the bottom of the inning. Heyer worked around the one-out single to keep the game scoreless.

In the bottom of the second inning, Heyer recorded her 537th career strikeout at the collegiate level. That put her into sole possession of second place on UNI softball's career strikeout list, moving her past Kailyn Packard (2021-2023).

After Heyer recorded her historic strikeout, Auburn's Makayla Packer singled to center field and promptly stole second. Packer then advanced to third on a passed ball and Nelia Peralta brought Packer home with a sacrifice bunt. Heyer forced a strikeout to end the inning, but Peralta's sacrifice bunt ultimately stood as the game-winning play.

Maddy McDermott replaced Heyer in the bottom of the fifth inning. Making just her third appearance at the collegiate level, McDermott kept the Tigers off the board in the fifth and sixth innings to preserve the Panthers' one-run deficit.

Unfortunately, the Panthers were unable to find the same success against Penta as they had yesterday. Hogan reached on an error in the bottom of the second inning, which marked the only baserunner that UNI managed until the top of the seventh.

McDermott worked around two walks in the bottom of the sixth to set up the Panthers in the top of the final inning, which began with a Pupillo walk. Parks struck out for the first out of the inning, which brought Lappe to the plate.

Pupillo advanced to second on a passed ball during Lappe's at-bat, but Lappe grounded out for the second out of the inning. Penta secured her no-hitter and Auburn's win by forcing a groundout from Hogan to end the contest.

The loss marked UNI's first of the Plainsman Invite as the Panthers and Tigers split their meetings over the weekend.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Wischnowski, Heyer, Sanders and Pupillo were named to the Plainsman Invite All-Tournament Team.
Maiers made the first start of her UNI career on Saturday morning against SEMO. She went 2.1 innings and allowed three hits and two earned runs. Maiers was credited with the victory against the Redhawks, the first of her collegiate career.
Wischnowski earned the first save of her collegiate career with a gutsy performance across the final four-and-a-half innings. She tossed 101 pitches and struck out seven batters in 4.2 innings pitched.
Jemilo's RBI single in the first inning against SEMO marked the first single of her collegiate career.
Owen's pinch-hit RBI single in the top of the sixth against SEMO marked her first RBI of the 2024 season.
Paige Peterson recorded her first stolen base at the collegiate level against the Redhawks.
Lappe improved career-best RBI total to six after her RBI triple against the Redhawks. The triple marked the first of Lappe's collegiate career.
In the second inning of Sunday's contest, Heyer moved past Packard for second place on UNI softball's career strikeout list.
Heyer has 541 career strikeouts after a seven-strikeout performance on Sunday against Auburn. Jamie Fisher (2011-2014) holds the program record with 767 career strikeouts.
Pupillo caught a runner stealing in the first inning against Auburn, her 10th putout of her collegiate career and her first of the 2024 season.
McDermott tossed a career-high three strikeouts in two innings of work against Auburn. The appearance marked the second relief appearance of McDermott's collegiate career.

UP NEXT

The Panthers continue their lengthy non-conference road trip next week but remain in the state of Alabama. UNI will visit UAB in a standalone game on Wednesday evening before participating in the 2024 T-Mobile Crimson Classic hosted by No. 10 Alabama.

UNI will face the currently-undefeated Crimson Tide on Thursday. Then, the Panthers will play two games each against No. 23 Arizona and South Alabama on Friday and Saturday.