University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Nebraska
UNI softball wraps up non-conference tournament action at Arkansas Razorback Rumble
3/6/2024 3:03:00 PM | Softball
UNI softball (9-6 / 0-0 MVC) at Arkansas Razorback Rumble
- Bogle Park | Fayetteville, Arkansas
- RV Nebraska (8-10 / 0-0 Big Ten) | March 8 | 10 a.m. CT
- RV South Alabama (12-5-1 / 0-0 Sun Belt) | March 8 | 12:15 p.m. CT
- Saint Francis University (11-8 / 0-0 NEC) | March 9 | 2:30 p.m. CT
- #20 Arkansas (17-4 / 0-0 SEC) | March 9 | 4:45 p.m. CT
- #20 Arkansas | March 10 | 12:15 p.m. CT
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI softball rounds out its three week non-conference road trip this weekend at Arkansas' Razorback Rumble. The Panthers are scheduled for five total games in the event, one each against Nebraska, South Alabama and Saint Francis University before closing the weekend with two games against No. 20 Arkansas.
The Panthers' games at the event run from Friday through Sunday, and the Panthers' Saturday evening game against the Razorbacks will be broadcast on SEC Network+. Live stats will be available for the remainder of the UNI's games this week.
The Panthers look to close their lengthy non-conference swing on a positive note after going 1-3 in a weather-shortened week of action last week. UNI's scheduled game against UAB last Wednesday was canceled due to inclement weather, and the Panthers played one less game at the T-Mobile Crimson Classic due to inclement weather in Tuscaloosa. UNI began the week with a narrow 1-0 loss against then-No. 11 Alabama last Thursday, then took down South Alabama 3-2 the following day. The Panthers lost to then-No. 21 Arizona and South Alabama last Saturday to round out the event.
Daryn Lamprecht keyed UNI's lone win last week, blasting her first home run of the 2024 season in the bottom of the second inning in last Friday's win against South Alabama. Lamprecht's three-run blast ultimately stood as the game-winning home run and was one of just two Panther hits for the contest. In the circle, Anna Wischnowski tossed the second complete game of her collegiate career with an effective outing against the Jaguars.
The weekend was also notable for Madison Parks, who became UNI softball's all-time leader in walks last Thursday against the Crimson Tide. The walk marked the 119th of Parks' career, which moved her past Kennedy Bailey (2015-18) for the most career walks in program history. Parks now has 124 career walks entering action this weekend. Additionally, Parks has a team-high 22 walks. That total ranks second nationally and first in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), as does her 1.47 walks per game. Parks ranks No. 5 nationally with a .623 on base percentage.
Also last week, before play began, Samantha Heyer was named MVC Pitcher of the Week and Alexis Pupillo was named MVC Player of the Week on Feb. 27.
The Panthers' final weekend of non-conference tournament play will feature more tests for a UNI squad that enters the weekend with a 9-6 record.
UNI's first opponent of the weekend is Nebraska, who made the NCAA Tournament in 2023 with a 36-22 overall record. The Huskers are receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 this week with an 8-10 record entering the weekend, and have faced a non-conference schedule littered with nationally ranked opponents. Billie Andrews leads the Huskers offensively, as she ranks No. 34 nationally with six home runs. Andrews' 0.961 slugging percentage ranks No. 10 nationally, and her 0.43 home runs per game rank No. 12 nationally. Andrews was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Feb. 27.
The Panthers then face a familiar opponent to round out action on Friday in South Alabama. UNI and South Alabama met twice at the T-Mobile Crimson Classic last week, with Lamprecht's home run leading the Panthers to a 3-2 victory last Friday night before South Alabama beat UNI 11-3 last Saturday. In the latter contest, the Jaguars jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the third inning and UNI was unable to close the gap. Parks and Kate Lappe hit home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning for the Panthers, but South Alabama's eight-run advantage was enough to end the contest after the fifth due to the run rule.
Notably, the Jaguars handed then-No. 11 Alabama its first loss of the 2024 season last Saturday and played then-No. 21 Arizona to a tie through 11 innings last Sunday. South Alabama enters the week receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25.
On Saturday, the Panthers begin the day with their second-ever meeting against Saint Francis University and the first meeting between the sides since 1986. The Red Flash are a traditional power in the Northeast Conference (NEC), and had a streak of five straight NEC Tournament Championships snapped in 2023. As such, Saint Francis University had made five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (excluding 2020) from 2017 through 2022.
This season, the Red Flash were picked second in the 2024 NEC Preseason Poll and are 11-8 heading into a mid-week game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Wednesday afternoon. Saint Francis University returned four players who were 2023 First-Team All NEC selections, including the decorated pitching duo of Grace Vesco and Rachel Marsden.
UNI rounds out the week with two contests against No. 20 Arkansas. The Panthers are 4-5 all-time against the Razorbacks, with the last meeting between the sides coming in 2016. Arkansas made the NCAA Tournament last year with a 40-19 record, and the team was picked to finish fourth in the 2024 SEC Preseason Poll.
Arkansas shares a few common opponents with the Panthers so far this season. The Razorbacks beat Omaha twice at Arizona's Bear Down Fiesta, while also splitting a pair of games with the Wildcats. Last weekend, at the Woo Pig Classic, the Panthers beat Southeast Missouri State 5-0 and 6-5. Entering this weekend, the Razorbacks rank eighth nationally with seven shutouts. Bri Ellis leads the Razorbacks offensively with 22 RBIs and seven home runs. Ellis ranks No. 28 nationally in RBIs and No. 15 nationally in home runs.
SCHEDULING NOTE
Due to forecasted inclement weather, Thursday's action at the Arkansas Razorback Rumble was canceled. As of Wednesday afternoon the rest of the weekend's schedule remains unchanged, including all of UNI's games. Stay tuned to UNI softball's social media channels for any potential updates regarding this weekend's schedule.
