UNI softball edges Valparaiso in extra inning finale

Sunday, May 5

Valparaiso, Ind.

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

31-16, 18-6

Valparaiso

9-39, 3-20

UNI

Valparaiso

Photo by: AJ Stevens

UNI softball edges Valparaiso in extra inning finale

5/5/2024 3:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score FINAL RESULTS Photo Gallery

Panthers end the regular season 31-16 and second in league standings. UNI opens MVC Tournament in quarterfinal round on Thursday.

VALPARAISO, Ind. --- UNI softball escaped a late Valparaiso rally and scored a pair of extra inning runs to take down the Beacons by a 4-2 score in Sunday's regular season finale in northwest Indiana in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action.

Samantha Heyer started the first three innings in the pitching circle for Northern Iowa before being subbed in for Anna Wischnowski, who held the Beacons at bay in five and one-third innings of work despite Valparaiso scoring in the fourth and sixth innings. Heyer returned to record the final two outs of the ninth frame to protect a two-run Panther lead and secure UNI's fourth straight series win over a conference opponent.

Alexis Pupillo and Kate Lappe opened the afternoon with consecutive one-out walks in the first inning off Beacons' starting pitcher Sydney McDermott, who snapped UNI's 11-game winning streak on Saturday. After a fielder's choice by Addison McElrath and a wild pitch, Kylee Sanders knocked home the game's first runs as a fly ball to center-field just fell out of reach of Valparaiso outfielder Kayla Skapyak bringing around the Lappe and the pinch-runner Maggie Erpelding for a 2-0 lead.

Heyer would throw three innings of hitless ball with just one walk allowed before handing the ball to Wischnowski, who gave up a lead-off single to Alexis Johnson. Two batters later, Emily Crompton would put the Beacons on the board with an RBI single to right-field and cut the UNI lead in half, 2-1.

After three quick outs on both sides of the fifth inning and nothing from the Panthers in the top of the sixth, Johnson again gave the Beacons a spark with a one-out single to right and a stolen base. Regi Hecker would tie the game for Valparaiso on a two-out double off the top of the center-field wall. UNI would halt any attempt of the Beacons taking the lead after Sanders recorded the third out of the inning on a hit ball off the second base bag by Lexi Szostak to end the inning.

Lappe would give Northern Iowa early signs of life on offense in extra innings with a one-out single up the middle in the eighth before fly outs by Ava Smithson and Sanders ended the Panthers' scoring chances. UNI would break through in the top of the ninth however a Taylor Hogan led off with a walk, followed by an Faith Standerski single up the middle. Ellie Owen advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt before Daryn Lamprecht grounded out to the shortstop to score Hogan. One spot later with Paige Petersen in to pinch run for Standerski, Parks ripped her third double in the last two days to right-center field, bringing Petersen around to score for a 4-2 lead.

The Beacons would threaten in the bottom of the ninth with a one-out single by Szostak, prompting Heyer to return to the circle for the Panthers. UNI would avoid a scoring opportunity by Valparaiso as Lyna Vasquez was called out after not being re-entered into the lineup properly after initially driving in a run. Heyer would slam the door shut with a strikeout of Carson Kuhlman to pick up the save and end the regular season with a narrow win for the purple and gold.

UNI finishes the regular season with a 31-16 record and 18-5 mark in MVC play, while the Beacons finish 9-39 and 3-20 in league action.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UNI improves to 22-2 all-time against Valparaiso after Sunday's win.
Sunday's contest was just the second game this season for the Panthers to be decided in extra innings. UNI previously won its extra-inning game in its MVC opener on March 15 at Belmont by a 3-1 score in ten innings.
Northern Iowa ends the regular season having won seven of its eight MVC series played, including its last four in a row against UIC, Drake, Illinois State and Valparaiso.
Anna Wischnowski picked up the win to improve to 14-7 with five and one-third innings pitched with four strikeouts, one walk and two earned runs allowed.
Samantha Heyer grabbed her second save of the season and fifth of her career after a combined three and two-thirds innings of work to begin and finish the game. Heyer threw four strikeouts and allowed just one walk.
Heyer is now tied with Desiree Bebout (1991-94) for the second-most career saves in school history with five.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will begin MVC Tournament play on Thursday, May 9 in the quarterfinal round against the first-round winner of Drake and Evansville. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT at Illinois State's Marian Kneer Stadium in Normal, Illinois with live coverage available on ESPN+.