AMES, Iowa – In their second and final matchup of the regular season, UNI softball dominated the Iowa State Cyclones with a 12-4 run-rule win.
It was a slugfest for the Panthers as they hit five home runs and 10 hits on Wednesday afternoon against the Cyclones. UNI lit up both Iowa State pitchers through a run-rule shortened game, scoring in all five innings and putting up a season-high in home runs.
Despite starting the game with a fly-out, the Panthers put two batters on base quickly. UNI's first run came from a Kylee Sanders single to left field, bringing Sammy Moss home. Catcher Emmy Wells would come up to bat next and hit the Panthers first home run of the day, bringing three runs across the plate.
Iowa State would answer at the half-inning with two runs on two hits. But a pop-up from the Cyclones second baseman would leave two stranded to end the first. It wouldn't take long for UNI to extend their lead back up to four as Mya Dodge hit a home run to center field with Daryn Lamprecht on first.
Iowa State wouldn't find an answer for the Panthers through the next three innings as UNI made six more runs. All but one of those runs would come off of home runs as Wells hit another bomb third with Kylee Sanders on first from a walk. Madison Parks would also collect two home runs with a solo shot to center in the fourth and a two-run homer in the top of the fifth.
UNI's other run of the game would be from Moss hitting a single to center field and being able to get second on a Cyclone error. The hit brought Dodge home for her second run of the day. The Panthers would head into the bottom of the fifth with a 10-run lead but Iowa State would try to get their offense going.
The Cyclones lead-off batter would grab a single before starting pitcher Kailyn Packard grabbed her final strikeout of the game. Iowa State would get the next two batters on base with a single and an error to load the bases. The next Cyclone batter would hit a sac fly to right, bringing in an unearned run.
Iowa State's final batter would single to left to get another run in. But an out at home by Wells would end the game after a brief video review.
Parks would lead the team in both runs and hits against the Cyclones with three apiece. Wells would be the only other UNI batter with multiple hits on the day. But five Panthers would have multiple runs on Wednesday including, Dodge, Moss, Parks, Wells, and Sanders.
When it came to bringing runs home, Wells led the day with 5 RBIs, a career-high for the sophomore catcher. Starting pitcher and reigning MVC Pitcher of the Week Kailyn Packard had another strong start on Wednesday. Through five innings Packard threw 6 strikeouts and had a 0.25 ERA.
UP NEXT:
UNI returns home for a weekend series against the Loyola Ramblers. The Panthers will look to play three games over the weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. First pitch from Robinson-Dresser on Saturday is set for noon.
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