UNI softball drops series finale at Belmont

Sunday, March 17

Nashville, Ten.

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

13-10, 2-1

Belmont

15-9, 1-2

Northern Iowa

Belmont

UNI softball drops series finale at Belmont

3/17/2024 2:29:00 PM | Softball

Box Score BOX SCORE

Panthers struggle to find offense against Bruins. UNI hosts three-game series with Indiana State beginning Friday afternoon.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- UNI was held to just one hit and struggled to strike out opposing batters in a 4-0 road loss to the Belmont Bruins on Sunday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park.

The Panthers were sat down in order five times in the finale to a three-game Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) series, drawing just two walks and being struck out 11 times.

Madison Parks recorded UNI's lone hit of the afternoon with a one-out single to right field as Taylor Hogan followed with a two-out walk. The Panthers would be unable to capitalize on the scoring opportunity, but held Belmont off the scoreboard in the bottom of the first after giving up a pair of singles.

Northern Iowa would struggle to reach base the rest of the game as the Bruins continued to pressure Panther pitchers throughout the day. Maddy McDermott would come into the game in relief of starter Samatha Heyer after two innings and would surrender the first run of the day after giving up a lead-off double to Belmont's Indy Cockrill and a single to Lauren Luciani. The Bruins would strike first on a sacrifice fly out to Parks by Abby Ledbetter to give the home team the 1-0 lead.

Kara Maiers entered the pitching circle in the bottom of the fifth inning for UNI and held Belmont scoreless despite runners a leadoff single. In the bottom of the sixth, UNI was able to draw two quick outs, but quickly saw the Bruins score three more runs on a pair of hits and base on balls. The Panthers were then set down in order in the final frame, dropping the final game of the series in a 4-0 loss.

UNI finishes the first weekend of league play with a 13-10 overall record, and 2-1 mark in MVC play.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UNI is now 2-2 all-time against Belmont following Sunday's loss and 2-1 against the Bruins since they joined the MVC last season.
Sunday marked just the fourth loss for the Panthers in MVC play in the last three seasons (since 2022).
Pitching the first two innings of Sunday's contest, Samatha Heyer lowered her season earned run average (ERA) to 2.03.
Maddy McDermott was charged with Sunday's loss, dropping her to 0-2 on the season.
Taylor Hogan and Madison Parks each recorded a stolen base against the Bruins. Hogan now has eight stolen bags on the year, while Parks has seven.

UP NEXT
UNI returns home next weekend to host the Indiana State Sycamores in a three-game MVC series. Friday's series opener against the Sycamores is slated to begin at 5 p.m. CT at the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex, with live coverage also available on ESPN+.