Panthers close out the Purple/Gold Challenge with a victory over Ball State

Sunday, March 2

Nashville, Tenn.

12:30 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

10-5

Ball State

8-6

Ball State

Northern Iowa

Panthers close out the Purple/Gold Challenge with a victory over Ball State

3/2/2025 3:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Final Stats

UNI softball picked up its 10th win of the season on Sunday against Ball State.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — UNI softball wrapped up the 2025 Purple/Gold Challenge with a matchup against Ball State on Sunday. Ball State took an early lead before the Panthers battled back and came out victorious by a 7-5 final score.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Ball State Cardinals jumped out to a quick lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. A two-RBI double from Katelyn Callahan tied the game at two after Addison McElrath and Kylee Sanders crossed the plate.

The Cardinals scored a pair of runs on a two-run homerun in the top of the second inning and one run in the top of the fourth to take a 5-2 lead. A single from Kylee Sanders drove in Eve Morris in the bottom of the fourth inning before a four-run fifth inning for the Panthers gave UNI a 7-5 lead. Makenna Kuper crossed the plate first in the UNI half of the fifth inning before Callahan walked in with the bases loaded. Another single from Kylee Sanders scored Ella Smithson before Ava Smithson came across the plate on an error. The 7-5 lead held up for the rest of the contest as UNI closed out the Purple/Gold Challenge with a victory.

Sanders led the Panther bats with three hits and two RBIs in four at-bats. Katelyn Callahan also drove in two runs in her three at-bats with two hits. Anna Wischnowski picked up her sixth win of the season making a four-inning start in the circle. Wischnowski struck out three of the 21 batters she faced.

UP NEXT

The Panthers head to Nebraska to compete in the Big Red Spring Fling hosted by the Huskers on Friday, March 7 - Sunday, March 9. UNI will take on Nebraska on March 7, Northern Colorado and South Dakota State on March 8, and South Dakota State and Nebraska on March 9.

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.