UNI softball earns sixth straight win over Drake
4/18/2023 7:40:00 PM | Softball
DES MOINES, Iowa --Â The Panthers added another win over in-state rival Drake on Tuesday in the second of three midweek matchups.
UNI secured a series win over the Drake Bulldogs Tuesday in a 9-2 victory on the road at Ron Buel Field. The Panthers still have one more game to play against the Bulldogs next week back home with the hope of sweeping their travel partner. Freshman catcher Alexis Pupillo had her sixth multi-hit game in two weeks to lead UNI against Drake with three hits in four at-bats.
It took the Panther offense a couple of innings to get going but got back to their power-hitting ways. In the top of the third inning, first baseman Daryn Lamprecht led off with a solo home run to right center to score UNI's first run. The Panthers added three straight hits shortly after, including another home run for left fielder Mya Dodge to score three more runs. UNI had a third homer that inning, a solo shot to center by designated player Addison McElrath, to take a comfortable 5-0 lead into the fourth.
The Panthers continued connecting to start the first as outfielder Faith Standerski hit a lead-off double into the left corner. She scored UNI's sixth run two batters later on Kylee Sanders' second triple of the year. While on third, Sanders came home almost immediately thanks to a passed ball by the Bulldogs catcher. Two more Panthers made it on board in the fourth but didn't score.
Drake added a hit in the fourth but nothing else to put the Panthers back on offense. UNI loaded up the bases with one out in the top of the fifth, but no one came home as the runner home was out on a fielder's choice. The Bulldogs ended the Panthers shut out in the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off double that became a run on back-to-back ground outs.Â
UNI answered back in the top of the sixth with a run during their second at-bat of the inning. Dodge hit another long ball with a triple to right that scored outfielder Madison Parks, making it an 8-1 game. Dodge ended up stranded at third, but it wouldn't be an issue as the Panther defense took down Drake in order to end the sixth.Â
In the final inning, right fielder Sammy Moss led off with a walk. Moss would stay at first through two batters until Pupillo connected on a double to right. Moss then hit the gas to score UNI's final run. The Bulldogs tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a second run on a long single out into short. But reliever Kailyn Packard shut the rally down with a strikeout to end the game.
Along with Pupillo, Parks, Dodge, and Lamprecht had multiple hits against Drake on Tuesday evening. Six other Panther batters added a hit to the scorecard while eight runners crossed home plate. Dodge again led UNI in RBIs, adding four to her already impressive stat line. Parks had the only stolen base of the day for the Panthers.
Redshirt junior Samantha Heyer picked up her 18th win of the year while pitching five innings against the Bulldogs. Through those five innings, Heyer struck out five batters and allowed just two walks with one earned run. Packard closed out the game in the circle for two innings, where she threw two strikeouts and no walks.Â
UP NEXT:
UNI stays on the road for the rest of the week as they head to Normal for a three-game series with the Illinois State Redbirds. The Panthers' first game in Illinois is scheduled for Friday, April 21, with first pitch at 5 p.m.Â
UNI secured a series win over the Drake Bulldogs Tuesday in a 9-2 victory on the road at Ron Buel Field. The Panthers still have one more game to play against the Bulldogs next week back home with the hope of sweeping their travel partner. Freshman catcher Alexis Pupillo had her sixth multi-hit game in two weeks to lead UNI against Drake with three hits in four at-bats.
It took the Panther offense a couple of innings to get going but got back to their power-hitting ways. In the top of the third inning, first baseman Daryn Lamprecht led off with a solo home run to right center to score UNI's first run. The Panthers added three straight hits shortly after, including another home run for left fielder Mya Dodge to score three more runs. UNI had a third homer that inning, a solo shot to center by designated player Addison McElrath, to take a comfortable 5-0 lead into the fourth.
The Panthers continued connecting to start the first as outfielder Faith Standerski hit a lead-off double into the left corner. She scored UNI's sixth run two batters later on Kylee Sanders' second triple of the year. While on third, Sanders came home almost immediately thanks to a passed ball by the Bulldogs catcher. Two more Panthers made it on board in the fourth but didn't score.
Drake added a hit in the fourth but nothing else to put the Panthers back on offense. UNI loaded up the bases with one out in the top of the fifth, but no one came home as the runner home was out on a fielder's choice. The Bulldogs ended the Panthers shut out in the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off double that became a run on back-to-back ground outs.Â
UNI answered back in the top of the sixth with a run during their second at-bat of the inning. Dodge hit another long ball with a triple to right that scored outfielder Madison Parks, making it an 8-1 game. Dodge ended up stranded at third, but it wouldn't be an issue as the Panther defense took down Drake in order to end the sixth.Â
In the final inning, right fielder Sammy Moss led off with a walk. Moss would stay at first through two batters until Pupillo connected on a double to right. Moss then hit the gas to score UNI's final run. The Bulldogs tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring a second run on a long single out into short. But reliever Kailyn Packard shut the rally down with a strikeout to end the game.
Along with Pupillo, Parks, Dodge, and Lamprecht had multiple hits against Drake on Tuesday evening. Six other Panther batters added a hit to the scorecard while eight runners crossed home plate. Dodge again led UNI in RBIs, adding four to her already impressive stat line. Parks had the only stolen base of the day for the Panthers.
Redshirt junior Samantha Heyer picked up her 18th win of the year while pitching five innings against the Bulldogs. Through those five innings, Heyer struck out five batters and allowed just two walks with one earned run. Packard closed out the game in the circle for two innings, where she threw two strikeouts and no walks.Â
UP NEXT:
UNI stays on the road for the rest of the week as they head to Normal for a three-game series with the Illinois State Redbirds. The Panthers' first game in Illinois is scheduled for Friday, April 21, with first pitch at 5 p.m.Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Heyer, Samantha (18-4)
L: E. Dighton (4-9)

Batting:
2B: Pupillo, Alexis 1 ; Standerski, Faith 1
3B: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Dodge, Mya 1
HR: Dodge, Mya 1 ; McElrath, Addison 1 ; Lamprecht, Daryn 1
RBI: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Pupillo, Alexis 1 ; Dodge, Mya 4 ; McElrath, Addison 1 ; Lamprecht, Daryn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Pupillo, Alexis 1 ; Parks, Madison 2 ; Dodge, Mya 1 ; McElrath, Addison 1 ; Moss, Sammy 1 ; Standerski, Faith 1 ; Lamprecht, Daryn 1
SB: Parks, Madison 1
CS: Pupillo, Alexis 1

Batting:
2B: H. Lehman 1 ; S. Miller 1
RBI: A. Lightner 1 ; E. Dighton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: H. Lehman 1 ; S. Miller 1
SB: H. Lehman 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned
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