Panthers open the Furman Classic with a victory over the Eagles

Friday, February 21

Greenville, S.C.

5:30 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

4-2

Morehead State

1-11

Northern Iowa

Morehead State

Photo by: © Andy Saigh

Panthers open the Furman Classic with a victory over the Eagles

2/21/2025 8:10:00 PM | Softball

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UNI softball opens its first road trip with an 11-5 victory over Morehead State.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — UNI softball kicked off the Furman Classic on Friday, Feb. 21 with a matchup against the Morehead State Eagles. The Panther bats came out hot before Morehead State began to mount a comeback. The Panthers put the nail in the coffin and took home an 11-5 victory in South Carolina.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Panther bats blew the game wide open and took a nine-run lead after five innings. Kylee Sanders got things started in the top of the first inning with a homerun, her first of the season. The top of the second saw the Panthers' second deep shot of the game, this time from Kate Lappe, before a two-run double from Kylee Sander scored Skylar Benesh and Makenna Kuper to give the Cats a 4-0 lead.

A five-run fifth inning for UNI got started with a bases-loaded walk drawn by Drew Hinrichs walked in Benesh. A junky play by Morehead State scored Sanders, Hinrichs, and Adalyn Reynolds before a sacrifice fly from Lappe scored Katy Olive to give the Panthers a 9-0 lead.

Morehead State put up four runs in the bottom of the fifth to avoid a run rule which cut UNI's lead to five at 9-4. A two-run shot from Drew Hinrichs, her first homerun of the season, gave UNI an 11-4 lead before the Eagles scored one in the bottom of the seventh to finish 11-4 in favor of UNI.

Kylee Sanders finished the game with three hits and three RBIs on four at bats. Drew Hinrichs also finished with three RBIs on two hits in three at bats. Morgan Vertz got the first collegiate win of her career in the circle with one strikeout in four innings and no runs.

UP NEXT

The Panthers continue the Furman Classic with a pair of matchups on Saturday, Feb. 22. UNI will take on Austin Peay at 10 a.m. CT before a matchup against Holy Cross at 5:30 p.m. CT.

UNI softball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Softball), X (@UNISoftball), and on Instagram (@unisoftball). The 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.