University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Drake
UNI softball rides five-game winning streak into second-to-last week of regular season
4/22/2024 5:47:00 PM | Softball
UNI softball (24-15 / 12-5 MVC) vs. Drake (19-21 / 7-10 MVC)
- 5 p.m. CT | April 23
- Buel Field | Des Moines, Iowa
- ESPN+
- LIVE STATS
UNI softball (20-15 / 12-5 MVC) vs. Illinois State (19-27 / 13-8 MVC)
- 5 p.m CT | April 26
- Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex | Cedar Falls, Iowa
- ESPN+
UNI softball vs. Illinois State
- 2 p.m. CT | April 27
- Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex | Cedar Falls, Iowa
- ESPN+
UNI softball vs. Illinois State
- 12 p.m CT | April 28
- Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex | Cedar Falls, Iowa
- ESPN+
- LIVE STATS (All Games)
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI softball has another busy week ahead, as the Panthers play four games in the second-to-last week of the regular season. UNI begins the week by wrapping up their extended three-game series against Drake in Des Moines, then hosts Illinois State in the Panthers' final home series at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex.
The Panthers' contest against the Bulldogs is at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. UNI's series against the Redbirds begins at 5 p.m. on Friday and continues at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The series concludes at 12 p.m. on Sunday. All four games this week will be broadcast on ESPN+, and live stats will be available.
Saturday's game against Illinois State is the Panthers' annual Bark in the Park game. Panther fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex, and dog treats will be available. Dogs are required to be on a leash at all times. Sunday's contest against the Redbirds is UNI softball's Senior Day, and a ceremony recognizing the program's seniors will take place after the game.
The Panthers enter the week riding a five-game winning streak after going a perfect 4-0 last week. UNI began action with a 7-5 victory over Drake last Wednesday at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex, which secured a victory in the Panthers' extended three-game series against the Bulldogs, then swept UIC in a three-game weekend series. UNI's sweep of the Flames marked the Panthers' first series sweep in 2024.
Alexis Pupillo hit her 14th home run of the 2024 season last Wednesday against the Bulldogs. The home run marked the 30th of her Panther career, which tied her for second place on UNI softball's all-time home runs leaderboard. Sammey Bunch (2017-21) holds the program record with 59 home runs. Additionally, Pupillo is tied for fourth place on UNI softball's single-season home runs leaderboard. The single-season program record is 22 home runs, which was set by Sammey Bunch in 2021.
Pupillo leads the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) in home runs (14), home runs per game (0.36), RBIs (40), RBIs per game (1.03), sacrifice flies (five) and slugging percentage (.780).
Madison Parks, who broke UNI softball's all-time walks record earlier this year, has 38 walks so far in 2024. Parks leads the MVC and ranks second nationally with 0.97 walks per game. Parks is six walks away from matching Kennedy Bailey's (2016) single-season program record of 44 walks, and is currently in third place on the single-season list.
Savanna Jemilo hit her first career home run on Saturday against the Flames. Jemilo also recorded three RBIs in the contest, which marked her new career high for RBIs in a game. Daryn Lamprecht led the Panthers at the plate last week, posting a team-high .556 batting average and 1.111 slugging percentage in four appearances. In total, Lamprecht went 5-for-9 with two doubles, a home run, four RBIs and 10 total bases.
Samantha Heyer led the Panthers in the circle. Last week, Heyer went 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three appearances. She also picked up a save. Heyer made two starts, made one relief appearance and totaled 15 innings pitched. In those innings, Heyer allowed 11 hits and just three earned runs while striking out 18 batters. Heyer limited opponents to a .196 batting average and lowered her season ERA to 2.22 following the week.
The Panthers' last major accomplishment in a jam-packed week of action came courtesy of head coach Ryan Jacobs. Jacobs moved into sole possession of eighth place on the MVC's all-time softball coaching wins list over the weekend, and now has 488 career coaching victories.
In addition to a five-game winning streak, the Panthers will hope to continue their lengthy winning streak against the Bulldogs on Tuesday in Des Moines. Following last Wednesday's win, the Panthers have won 11 consecutive games against Drake. UNI's last loss in the series came on April 20, 2021. After playing the Panthers last Wednesday, Drake hosted Bradley in a three game series over the weekend. The Braves took two of three games from the Bulldogs, including a 7-6 extra-innings decision last Saturday, but Drake took the series finale with a decisive 9-3 victory.
After wrapping up their series with the Bulldogs, the Panthers welcome Illinois State to Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex. Despite holding a 19-27 overall record, the Redbirds are 13-8 in MVC play and enter this week in fourth place in the conference standings. Delainey Bryant leads the MVC with 51 hits, while Paige McLeod and Hannah Meshnick have each made an MVC-high 34 pitching appearances each.
UNI has beaten the Redbirds in eight consecutive MVC contests, with the Panthers' last MVC loss against Illinois State coming on May 1, 2021. However, Illinois State and UNI met in the Middle Tennessee State University Invitational in 2022, which went down as a non-conference clash. The Redbirds won that game 8-3.
