UNI softball beats Saint Francis University, falls to No. 20 Arkansas on Saturday

Saturday, March 9

Fayetteville, Ark.

2:30 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

11-7

Saint Francis University

13-10

Northern Iowa

St. Francis

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

UNI softball beats Saint Francis University, falls to No. 20 Arkansas on Saturday

3/9/2024 9:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 FINAL RESULTS (Saint Francis)FINAL RESULTS (Arkansas)

Panthers split games on day two of Razorback Rumble, finish event Sunday

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas --- UNI softball split its games on day two of the Razorback Rumble, taking down Saint Francis University 6-4 and falling to No. 20 Arkansas 7-4 on Saturday. The Panthers' victory over the Red Flash marked a historic milestone for the program, as it was the 1,400th win in UNI softball history.

The Panthers now sit at 11-8 entering the final day of competition on Sunday.

Game 1 | UNI 6 - SFU 4

In just their second-ever meeting against Saint Francis University, UNI controlled a majority of the contest. The Panthers struck first in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs and a runner at third, Paige Peterson recorded the first RBI of her collegiate career with a single to third base.

Peterson's single drove in Taylor Hogan to give the Panthers an early advantage.

In the circle, Samantha Heyer was simply dominant through five innings. Heyer set the tone in the bottom of the first inning by striking out the first three Red Flash batters, and had seven total strikeouts through the opening three innings. Saint Francis didn't record its first baserunner until the bottom of the fourth inning.

Meanwhile, UNI's offense gave Heyer more of a cushion. Peterson again came to the plate with a runner at third and two outs in the top of the fourth inning, and she reached on an error that scored Kate Lappe.

The Panthers tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth. After a leadoff single from Daryn Lamprecht, pinch runner Maggie Erpelding advanced to third on a steal and a passed ball. Alexis Pupillo drove Erpelding home with one out in the inning, which chased Red Flash starting pitcher Grace Vesco from the contest.

UNI kept the line moving after Madison Parks singled and Addison McElrath walked to load the bases. Lappe then drove home the Panthers' fourth run of the contest on a fielder's choice. With two outs in the frame, Sammy Moss made it 5-0 after she singled to third base.

Heyer worked yet another clean inning in the bottom of the fifth, but the Red Flash began to chip away at the Panthers' lead as the contest wore on. Saint Francis led off the inning with a walk, but Heyer then sat down the next two batters. With two outs in the inning, Olivia Ulam hammered a two-run blast to center field to get the Red Flash on the board.

Leading 5-2 in the top of the seventh, the Panthers tacked on a timely insurance run. Lappe led off the frame with a single, and Hogan promptly singled to put two runners on. Hogan's knock advanced pinch runner Gretta Hartz to third base, and Moss then picked up her second RBI of the day with a groundout that brought Hartz home. The Red Flash retired UNI's next two hitters to get out of the inning, but the Panthers held a 6-2 advantage entering the bottom of the seventh.

UNI ended up needing all four of those runs. Anna Wischnowski entered the contest for Heyer and, after giving up a leadoff single, Wischnowski struck out the next two Red Flash batters. However, Saint Francis then put together a late rally.

A single and a walk loaded the bases for pinch hitter Lauren Aubry, who hit a two-run single that cut UNI's lead in half. When the dust settled the Red Flash had runners at third and second with two outs, but Wischnowski forced a groundout from Ashley Wruble to end the contest.

Game 2 | UNI 4 - No. 20 Arkansas 7

In their fifth matchup against a ranked opponent so far in 2024, the Panthers' late rally fell short in a three-run loss against the Razorbacks on Saturday night.

Kara Maiers received the start for the Panthers, her second at the Division I level. Maiers worked an efficient inning in the bottom of the first, but Arkansas opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. The Razorbacks led off the inning with a single, then Maiers hit a batter to put two runners on. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners to third base, and a sacrifice fly from Rylin Hedgecock gave the Razorbacks the opening run of the contest. Maiers did get out of the remainder of the inning unscathed.

However, Arkansas struck for four more runs in the bottom of the third. The Razorbacks recorded four total hits, and the inning was capped by a two-RBI double by Hedgecock to give the Razorbacks a 5-0 advantage.

The Panthers responded with a run of their own in the top of the fourth. With two outs in the inning, Lamprect roped a double to left field that scored Lappe from second base. Savanna Jemilo, who was at first base after a single, was cut down at home plate to end the inning.

Maddy McDermott entered the game for Maiers in the bottom of the fourth inning, and the Razorbacks added their last two runs of the contest on solo blasts from Raigan Kramer and Bri Ellis. McDermott settled in from there, though, working quick innings in the fifth and sixth to set the table for the seventh.

UNI launched a rally in the final frame. Lamprecht began the inning with a walk, then Kylee Sanders singled to center field. That brought Pupillo to the plate, and she smashed her eighth home run of the season to left center field to cut Arkansas' lead in half.

Leading 7-4, Arkansas brought in Lauren Camenzind to close the contest. She struck out Parks and Ellie Owen, but Lappe walked to extend the contest. Camenzind got Hogan to pop out to end the game and secure a win for the hosts.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Saturday afternoon's victory against Saint Francis University marked a sizable moment for the program, as it was the 1,400th victory in UNI softball history.
Peterson recorded the first RBI of her collegiate career in the second inning against Saint Francis University.
Moss recorded her first RBI of the 2024 season against Saint Francis University, and it also marked the first multi-RBI game for Moss this season. She had two multi-RBI games last season.
Lappe also recorded an RBI against the Red Flash, which marked her third consecutive contest with an RBI. That's the longest streak of Lappe's career, and the junior has a career-high 10 RBIs through 19 contests.
Heyer had eight strikeouts against the Red Flash, and she now has 556 for her Panther softball career. She stands alone in second place in UNI softball history for career strikeouts, and trails Jamie Fisher (767, 2011-14) for the most in program history.
Parks has 24 walks through 19 contests, and is well-positioned to enter the leaderboard for the most walks drawn in a single season in UNI softball history. Kennedy Bailey's 44 walks in 2016 mark the program record, and Parks is 10 walks away from matching the fifth-highest single season walk total.
Lamprecht recorded consecutive multi-hit games on Saturday. That marked the third instance in her career that she has recorded back-to-back two-hit games, and the first time she has done so since 2022.
Pupillo recorded her team-high eighth home run against Arkansas on Saturday night. It also marked her 21st RBI of the 2024 campaign.

UP NEXT

The Panthers round out the Razorback Rumble with another clash against the No. 20 Razorbacks. UNI faces Arkansas at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday to close the event. The game will not be broadcast, but live stats will be available.

Following Sunday's game, the Panthers enter Missouri Valley Conference play with a series next weekend at Belmont.