UNI softball blanked in series-opening loss at Bradley

Friday, April 12

Peoria, Ill.

5 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

19-14, 7-4

Bradley

20-20, 9-6

UNI

Bradley

UNI softball vs. Missouri State | Apr. 5-6, 2024 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

Photo by: Devin Baas

UNI softball blanked in series-opening loss at Bradley

4/12/2024 7:25:00 PM | Softball

Box Score FINAL RESULTS

Panthers held hitless until sixth inning, draw six walks in 6-0 loss

PEORIA, Illinois --- UNI softball dropped the opening game of its three-game series at Bradley on Friday evening, as a strong pitching performance from Bradley's Sydney Kennedy led the Braves to a 6-0 victory at OSF Healthcare Field. The Panthers were held hitless until the sixth inning, but UNI did record six walks and three total hits in the loss.

Anna Wischnowski and Kennedy traded scoreless frames for the first few innings of the contest. Wischnowski recorded two strikeouts in the first inning and worked around a two-out single in the second inning, while the Panthers picked up their first base runner in the top of the second inning when both Kylee Sanders and Taylor Hogan drew walks.

The top of the second inning represented one of the best scoring opportunities of the game for UNI, as Sanders and Hogan reached base with one out in the frame. However Kennedy forced Ava Smithson to ground out, and Bradley retired Sanders at third base for the second out of the inning. Savanna Jemilo struck out to end the Panthers' half of the inning.

Bradley scored the first run of the contest in the bottom of the third inning. Two of the first three Brave batters picked up a hit, then Wischnowski forced a ground ball from Bradley's Bailey Sample that had double-play potential. The Panthers picked up one out, but an errant throw allowed Kierston McCoy to round third and score the opening run of the game.

UNI was unable to respond in the top of the fourth inning, but Wischnowski held Bradley's offense at bay to keep the Panthers' deficit at one run. After UNI's offense went quietly in the top of the fifth inning, the Braves added two crucial runs in the home half of the frame. Wischnowski retired the first batter of the inning, but Lauren DeRolf then singled. Bradley's next batter, Sample, hit a two-run blast to give the Braves a 3-0 lead.

Kate Lappe recorded the Panthers' first hit of the game in the top of the sixth inning. UNI eventually had two runners on base with two outs in the top of the sixth, but Kennedy retired Hogan via groundout to close the inning.

Wischnowski exited the contest after the fifth inning, and Bradley blew the game open in the bottom of the sixth. Four of the first five Braves to bat reached base against Kara Maiers, and an RBI walk from Sample gave Bradley a 4-0 lead. Maddy McDermott then entered the game for Maiers, and Kennedy helped out her own cause with a two-RBI single to extend Bradley's lead to 6-0.

McDermott retired the next two Bradley batters to end the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Kennedy completed her shutout to secure the victory for the Braves. The Panthers will now need to win the next two games of the series to avoid their first Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) series loss since 2021.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Prior to the Panthers' game on Tuesday against Drake, Ava Smithson was named MVC Newcomer of the Week. The honor marked the first of Smithson's Panther career and marked the second consecutive week that a UNI player has received a weekly honor from the conference.
Daryn Lamprecht recorded the Panthers' second hit of the contest in the top of the seventh inning with a two-out double. It marked her sixth double of the year.
Madison Parks, who entered the weekend ranked No. 3 nationally and No. 1 in the MVC with 1.00 walks per game, picked up her 33rd walk of the 2024 season in the top of the seventh inning on Friday.
With one more walk, Parks would match herself (2022) and Courtney Dunker (2011) for a three-way tie in fifth place on UNI softball's single- season walks leaderboard. Kennedy Bailey (2016) holds the program record with 44 walks.
Alexis Pupillo picked up UNI's third hit of the evening in the top of the seventh, which loaded the bases, but Kennedy retired Lappe to end the game.
The loss dropped Wischnowski's record to 8-6 on the season.
Friday marked McDermott's ninth appearance in the circle this season, and her first since March 31.
Friday marked UNI's first loss against Bradley since 2022. The Panthers swept the series against the Braves last season, but have now dropped two consecutive games in Peoria.