UNI softball picks up first sweep of 2024, extends winning streak to five games

Sunday, April 21

Cedar Falls, Iowa

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

24-15, 0

UIC

16-29, 0

UIC

Northern Iowa

UNI softball vs. UIC | April 19, 2024 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

Photo by: Devin Baas

UNI softball picks up first sweep of 2024, extends winning streak to five games

4/21/2024 3:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score FINAL RESULTS

Panthers use five-run fifth inning to power past Flames

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI softball picked up its first series sweep of the 2024 season on Sunday afternoon, downing UIC 6-0 in the series finale. The Panthers broke Sunday's contest open in the bottom of the fifth with a five-run frame, while excellent defense helped keep the Flames scoreless.

Panther starting pitcher Samantha Heyer and UIC starter Carlee Jo Clark both effectively worked through batters early on. The Flames threatened in the top of the third inning as, with a runner at first base and one out, UIC's Cameran Rios lofted a ball to shallow left field. However, Alexis Pupillo perfectly read the offering and made a nifty running catch to help keep the game scoreless.

Heyer retired Larisa Villa to close the visitors' half of the inning.

In the bottom of the frame, the Panthers got on the board. Daryn Lamprecht led off the inning with a double down the left field line, but Clark retired Madison Parks for the first out of the inning. Pupillo then walked, and both her and pinch runner Gretta Hartz advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Kate Lappe eventually brought Hartz home with a sacrifice fly to right field that floated into foul territory.

The Panthers held a 1-0 lead after three innings, and UNI began the top of the fourth with another spectacular defensive play. UIC leadoff batter Hailey Cowing attempted to lead off the top of the fourth with a bunt, but Cowing's effort hung up just long enough to allow Heyer to make a diving snag. Heyer retired the next two batters of the inning to preserve the Panthers' advantage.

The fifth inning ultimately proved paramount in the contest. In the top of the inning, the Flames loaded the bases after Heyer walked three batters. Heyer's third walk of the frame came with two outs, which set up a crucial at-bat for Villa. Villa hammered a ball to left field that could have flipped the script in the Flames' favor, but Pupillo made a sliding catch to preserve UNI's lead.

Riding the momentum from Pupillo's excellent defensive play, the Panthers broke the game open in the bottom of the inning.

Lamprecht began the frame with a walk, then Parks reached base after an error. Pupillo then drove home Lamprecht with a single down the left field line that doubled the Panthers' lead. The RBI marked Pupillo's 40th of the 2024 season.

With runners at first and second and no outs, Lappe hit a ground ball to deep shortstop. UIC shortstop Jazmyn Casas opted to throw towards second base and the ball left the infield, which allowed Parks to score and sent Pupillo to third base. Addison McElrath capped the inning with a three-run blast to right center field to put the Panthers ahead 6-0.

The Flames' last notable scoring opportunity came in the top of the sixth, when Heyer worked around a bases-loaded jam to keep the visitors off the board.

Anna Wischnowski closed out the contest in the top of the seventh inning to secure the Panthers' first series sweep of the 2024 season.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The Panthers extended their winning streak to five games on Sunday, and also picked up their first series sweep of the 2024 season. UNI's last series sweep came in the last series of the 2023 regular season against Evansville.
UNI improved its all-time record against the Flames to 14-3 following Sunday's win. This weekend's series marked just the second Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) series between the sides.
Pupillo picked up her 40th RBI of the 2024 season on Sunday afternoon. She is closing in on UNI softball's single-season RBI leaderboard, as Pupillo is 10 RBIs away from tying Sammey Bunch (2019) for fifth place on the list.
Lappe has 35 hits so far this season, and she is two hits away from Pupillo's team-high 37 hits. Lappe extended her hitting streak to five games on Sunday.
Lamprecht hit her team-high eighth double on Sunday against the Flames.
Heyer picked up her 12th victory of the 2024 season and her 50th career victory on Sunday. Heyer is three wins away from matching Desiree Bebout (1991-94) for fifth place on UNI softball's career pitching wins list.
McElrath hit her fifth home run of the 2024 season on Sunday, and now has 25 RBIs.

UP NEXT

The Panthers have another busy week next week. UNI wraps up its extended three-game series against Drake on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Des Moines, then returns to Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex for a three-game series against Illinois State.

All four games next week will be broadcast on ESPN+.