CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Panthers picked up their 11th straight win in a big way on Saturday afternoon against the Illinois State Redbirds.
It looked like your typical pitchers' duel between UNI and Illinois State on Saturday afternoon as neither team had more than a hit through four innings. But the Panthers exploded for five hits and eight runs in the bottom of the fifth to beat the Redbirds 8-0 in a run-rule shortened game.
Starting pitcher Kailyn Packard began wheeling and dealing early for UNI as she threw two straight strikeouts to start the game. The Panthers would keep the Redbirds hitless until the fourth inning while UNI started hitting early. Facing two outs, center fielder Madison Parks it a double to left-center for the first hit of the game.
Left fielder Kamryn Shaffer would quickly reach base as well on a walk. After a wild pitch sent Parks and Shaffer into scoring position, Illinois State would be able to get a ground out to end the inning. It'd be two straight innings of batters being retired in order until the Redbirds grabbed a hit off the first pitch in the fourth inning. But the farthest Illinois State could get was second base before a strikeout and a ground out ended the Redbirds lone push on offense.
It continued to be a quiet game until the bottom of the fifth when catcher Emmy Wells led off with a walk. Maggie Erpelding would come in to pinch run for Wells and quickly stole a base during second baseman Taylor Hogan's at-bat. Erpelding would get another base on a wild pitch but the Panthers would be down two outs with her on third.
Even facing two outs, first baseman Daryn Lamprecht would crush a ball to right field to get to first base on an error. Erpelding would also get UNI's first run of the game during the play. The Panthers followed up with four straight singles from designated player Mya Dodge, right fielder Sammy Moss, Parks, and Shaffer to go up four-nothing.
With runners on third and second, shortstop Kylee Sanders came up to the plate and was walked to load up the bases. Wells would come back up for her second at-bat and found herself facing an even count of 2-2 after two fouls and two balls. But on the fifth pitch she faced, Wells crushed the ball to left-center for her second career grand slam. The grand slam would be counted as a walkoff win as UNI hit the NCAA eight-run mercy rule.
In the circle, Packard threw a full five innings for one hit, no runs, and eight strikeouts. On offense, Parks would lead the team with two hits while Dodge, Moss, Shaffer, and Wells had one hit apiece. Wells led the team in RBIs with her four-run grand slam while Sanders was left on base twice. The Panthers also had a strong game in the field with 15 putouts, eight assists, and one error in the top of the first inning.
UP NEXT:
UNI continues its three-game series against the Redbirds with a Sunday afternoon doubleheader. First pitch between the two teams is set for noon.
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