UNI softball stumbles on the final day of the Doc Halverson Classic

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — It was a tale of two games for the Panthers as they closed out the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic with losses to Iowa State and South Dakota.

UNI took an early lead against the Cyclones, but two big offensive innings by Iowa State handed the Panthers an 8-2 loss. In the final game of the tournament, UNI was down early but had a five-run third inning to take a commanding lead. But the Coyotes had back-to-back four-run innings, putting the game just out of reach for the Panthers.

GAME 1 | Iowa State, 8-2

It was a quick start to UNI’s first game of the day as both teams went three and three in the first inning. The Cyclones had similar results in the second inning, but the Panther offense started to click in the bottom of the inning. First baseman Daryn Lamprecht led off the inning with a ground rule double followed by a walk to the second baseman Taylor Hogan and designated player Hannah Kelley.

After Kelley’s walk outfielder Sammy Moss hit a single to short that was meant to be a fielder’s choice. But the Iowa State shortstop ignored Hogan advancing from second to third with the third out. A shortstop error gave Daryn Lamprecht time to get home for the first round of the game.

But the Cyclones answered back in the top of the third with four runs on three hits off the starting pitcher Samantha Heyer. The Panthers survived the inning in the infield and outfield. UNI would get its only run of the second run in the bottom of the third with a steal Alexis Pupillo walked and Lamprecht singled to left center.

Runners on the corners, shortstop Kylee Sanders dropped a fielder’s choice RBI into the infield. A fielder’s choice brought Pupillo home for his second collegiate outing. The Panthers loaded the bases soon after, but two quick outs ended a potential UNI rally.

The Panthers couldn’t find home plate again as Iowa State added four runs in the top of the fifth. UNI put two runners on base in the bottom of the fifth, but two strikeouts and a long strikeout ended the Panthers’ best chance to add runs.

GAME 2 | South Dakota, 9-6

While the UNI offense struggled to get going against the Iowa State offense, the Panther offense had an inning explosion in the second game against the Coyotes. South Dakota led the way with four hits in the first inning. UNI had three players reach base in the bottom of the inning with five strikeouts, but no one brought in a run.

That wouldn’t be the case in the bottom of the third, as the entire lineup had a hit. Moss’ leadoff single tied the game for the Panthers, especially after Moss had stolen second base. Sanders walked his at bat and set up a fielder Usko Standerski into a sacrifice bunt that put both runners in scoring position. Another sacrifice fly from Pupillo to right field brought Moss home to tie the game.

UNI tacked on two more runs three batters later when a throwing error by the Coyotes’ third baseman got Lamprecht to first. And a dropped third strike by the South Dakota catcher loaded the bases. With the bases loaded, Kelley hit a long single to right field to score Sanders and Lamprecht.

Hogan immediately scored as a third baseman Brooke Snider hit a single up the middle. Snider on and pinch loop Maggie Erpelding At third, Snider took advantage of a long ball to steal second. Snider was then able to advance to third and score Erpelding as the Coyotes second baseman overthrew third trying to make the final out.

The Panthers’ scoring would end as a designated player Addison McElrath struck out for the final out of the inning. South Dakota loaded the bases in the top of the fourth, but the starting pitcher Kailyn Packard got out of the jam with a strikeout and a line. But the Coyotes wouldn’t squander the bases loaded twice in a row as they scored four in the fifth to tie the game.

UNI didn’t answer in the bottom as they had three quick outs. South Dakota took the lead in the next inning on a hit by Panther errors at first and a passed ball with six hits. UNI rose to sixth as a pitcher Samantha Heyer threw two straight batters after the changeup Anna Wischnowski.

The Panthers added the final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Snider led off with a ground rule double to left and took third shortly after. Outfielder Madison Parks was then able to single up the middle, sending Snider home for his lone run of the day. UNI put two on in the second but couldn’t find another hit in the loss.

NEXT:

The Panthers have a week and a half to regroup from the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic before departing. UNI makes a stop in Tennessee for one game with Austin Peay State before a two-week swing at Georgia.