TERRE HAUTE, Ind.- Indiana State Softball will continue MVC play this weekend with a road trip to Cedar Falls, IA for a three-game series against UNI beginning on Friday, March 22 with a double header starting at 2 p.m ET. Game three will be on Saturday, March 23 at 5 p.m ET. Game times may be adjusted due to temperatures.
Indiana State (13-15, 2-3) is coming off of a 1-2 weekend where they fell to Bradley in a three-game series. The Sycamores won game two of the series 7-0 over the Braves where they recorded eight hits which came from Danielle Henning, Kennedy Shade, Kenzie Cornwell, Sophie Esposito, Livi Colip (2) and Abby Robakowski (2). Hailey Griffin took the win in the circle for the Sycamores on Saturday where she allowed only four hits and zero runs scored.
Northern Iowa (13-10, 2-1) won their three game series over Belmont 2-1 last weekend. The Panthers first MVC match up on Friday against the Bruins lasted 10 innings where Samantha Heyer pitched a career high 10-innings in the 3-1 victory.
The Panthers lead the all-time series over the Sycamores 26-15, which dates back to March 1, 2008. Indiana State won the most recent match last season against Bradley, with a score of 1-0 on May 12, 2023.
Sycamore Standouts:
- Kennedy Shade continues to lead the Sycamores offensively with a .380 batting average, which consists of 30 hits, six doubles, 23 RBIs, 16 runs scored, where she added her third home run of the 2024 season in Saturday's 7-0 victory over Bradley. Shade records 10 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games for Indiana State.
- Abi Chipps records the most hits on the season for Indiana State, with 33, and leads the Sycamores in stolen bases, with 11. In 92 at bats at lead off, Chipps has only struck out three times this season.
- Abby Robakowski has recorded three home runs this season, where she is second in batting averages with a .367 with 22 hits and 17 RBIs. Robakowski has a .457 on base percentage for the Sycamores and recently went 2-3 in the 7-0 victory over Bradley with 2 RBIs.
In the circle:
- Hailey Griffin (3-3) leads the Sycamore pitching staff with a 3.27 ERA in 60.0 innings pitched. She recorded her first collegiate no hitter in the 4-0 victory on March 1 against IUPUI. Griffin has started in six games this season, where she has struck out 39 batters.
- Lauren Sackett (6-7) records the most strikeouts for the Indiana States pitching staff, with 43. Sackett has made 16 appearances and 13 starts in the 2024 season where she holds a 4.65 ERA and records one save for the Sycamores.
Scouting UNI:
- Alexis Pupillo leads the Panthers with a .292 batting average which includes 19 hits, three doubles, 24 RBIs, 21 runs scored, and nine home runs in the 2024 season.
- Samantha Heyer (5-4) was named MVC pitcher of the week last month after throwing a no hitter with 14 strikeouts in the victory over Memphis on February 21 and another 14 strikeouts in the win over SEMO on February 24 . Heyer was ranked 91 on D1Softballs Preseason player rankings and leads the UNI pitching staff with a 2.03 ERA in 58.2 innings of work and she records 77 strikeouts in the 2024 season.
Up Next:
Indiana State will host Belmont next weekend at Price Field on March 29-31 to compete in a three-game MVC series. Game times are listed below.
- Friday, March 29 at 3 p.m ET
- Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m ET- First 50 fans will receive rally towels
- Sunday, March 31 at 12 p.m ET
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Softball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
- #MarchOn -
