UNI softball opens 2024 season hosting Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic

UNI softball (0-0 / 0-0 MVC) at Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic

UNI-Dome | Cedar Falls, Iowa
Western Illinois | Feb. 9 | 2 p.m. CT
Butler | Feb. 9 | 4:30 p.m. CT
Northern Illinois | Feb. 10 | 6 p.m. CT
Omaha | Feb. 10 | 8:30 p.m.
Western Illinois | Feb. 11 | 4:30 p.m.
ESPN+ (Friday, Sunday only)
LIVE STATS

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The 51st season of UNI softball kicks off this weekend as the Panthers host the annual Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic. The Panthers will welcome five teams to Cedar Falls for this weekend's tournament, which features 15 games across three days of action. Northern Iowa will begin its season at 2 p.m. CT on Friday afternoon against Western Illinois.

Fans can follow the action live on ESPN+ on both Friday and Sunday. Live broadcasts will not be available on Saturday, but live stats will be available all weekend.

2024 DOC HALVERSON UNI-DOME CLASSIC SCHEDULE

Feb. 9 - Northern Illinois vs. Western Illinois - 9 a.m. CT
Feb. 9 - Omaha vs. Butler - 11:30 a.m. CT
Feb. 9 - Western Illinois vs. UNI - 2 p.m. CT
Feb. 9 - Butler vs. UNI - 4:30 p.m. CT
Feb. 9 - Drake vs. Omaha - 7 p.m CT
Feb. 10 - Butler vs. Western Illinois - 8 a.m.
Feb. 10 - Western Illinois vs. Drake - 10:30 a.m. CT
Feb. 10 - Drake vs. Butler - 1 p.m. CT
Feb. 10 - Northern Illinois vs. Omaha - 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 - Northern Illinois vs. UNI - 6 p.m. CT
Feb. 10 - Omaha vs. UNI - 8:30 p.m. CT
Feb. 11 - Butler vs. Northern Illinois - 9 a.m. CT
Feb. 11 - Drake vs. Northern Illinois - 11:30 a.m. CT
Feb. 11 - Omaha vs. Drake - 2 p.m. CT
Feb. 11 - Western Illinois vs. UNI - 4:30 p.m. CT

The Panthers have received plenty of preseason praise entering Friday's season opener, as the back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season champions aim to defend their league crown and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021. On Tuesday, the Panthers were tabbed the preseason favorite in the 2024 MVC Preseason Poll. UNI received 10 of 12 available first place votes.

Additionally, a program-record five UNI players were named to the 2024 Preseason All-MVC Team. Infielder Taylor Hogan, catcher Alexis Pupillo, utility player Addison McElrath, outfielder Madison Parks and pitcher Samantha Heyer were the Panthers honored by the conference. UNI had the most selections of any MVC team.

Heyer and Pupillo both received national recognition in the buildup to the 2024 campaign. Last month, Heyer was named the No. 91 player nationally in D1Softball's 2024 Preseason D100 Player Rankings. The redshirt senior looks to pace the Panthers yet again in the circle in 2024, as Heyer looks to build off a dominant 2023 season that saw her set single-season program record in total wins (23) and opponent batting average (.167). Heyer is also the reigning MVC Pitcher of the Year.

Pupillo, meanwhile, was ranked the No. 45 player nationally in Softball America's Preseason Top 100 Player Rankings. The Crystal Lake, Illinois native figured to be one of UNI's most prolific hitters again in 2024 after a breakout freshman season. Pupillo led the MVC with a .412 batting average in 2023, and also led the conference in hits (66), RBIs (49) and home runs (17, T-1). She started all 51 games behind the plate for the Panthers a season ago.

UNI opens its season with a familiar face in Western Illinois, who the Panthers also face in the final game of the event on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers and Leathernecks have faced off 51 times entering play this weekend, but the sides have not faced off since 2016. Western Illinois posted a 9-36 record in 2023.

The Panthers then square off with Butler at 4:30 p.m. immediately following their season opener. The Bulldogs are the most infrequent of this weekend's opponents, as Friday will mark just the seventh all-time meeting between the teams. Butler went 18-35 in 2023, but did have a 12-9 record in Big East play.

UNI opens play on Saturday against Northern Illinois, a team the Panthers have played just seven times in program history. The Panthers and Huskies have not faced off since 2007, and NIU holds a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series. Northern Illinois went 26-25 last season and 15-13 in the Mid-American Conference.

Omaha rounds out the Panthers' opponents in the season-opening event. The Mavericks are no stranger to participating in the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic, as Omaha has participated in the event in each of the last four seasons.

The Mavericks enter the 2024 season on the heels of an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023, a berth bolstered by an 5-0 record during the 2023 Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic. Omaha went 33-17 overall and 15-5 in the Summit League before winning the conference tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. There, Omaha's season ended in the Baton Rouge Regional.

The Panthers and Mavericks face off at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night before UNI closes the event against Western Illinois at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

EVENT NOTICE
Free parking will be available in the lots just west of the UNI-Dome. A $10 admission charge will be collected at the entrance, which will be located at the southwest corner of the UNI-Dome. Tickets can also be purchased at the ticket office located in the Hall of Fame Connector between the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center. Additionally, fans are permitted to bring in their own food and non-alcoholic beverages as concessions will not be available.

Calendar

Upcoming Events