Panthers sweep opening doubleheader at UIC

Friday, March 21

Chicago, Ill.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

15-8, 0

UIC

4-24, 0

Northern Iowa

UIC Flames

Photo by: © Andy Saigh

Panthers sweep opening doubleheader at UIC

3/21/2025 7:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Final Stats (Game 1)Final Stats (Game 2)

UNI softball improves to 5-0 in conference play after 7-1, 6-2 victories over the Flames.

CHICAGO — UNI softball headed to Chicago to take on the UIC Flames in a Friday doubleheader to continue conference play. The Panthers jumped out big in both matchups and never looked back as the Panthers finished the doubleheader with 7-1 and 6-2 victories.

GAME ONE | UNI 7, UIC 1

The Panthers got on the board early with a bases-loaded walk drawn by Katelyn Callahan to score Kylee Sanders which gave UNI a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Anna Wischnowski retired the first three batters she faced before a pair of home runs in the top of the second inning pushed the Panther lead to three. Ava Smithson and Skylar Benesh were the home run hitters in the frame.

UNI picked up four more runs in the top of the fourth inning with a pair of two-RBI singles from Sykora Smith and Ava Smithson to give the Panthers a commanding 7-0 lead. A UIC run in the bottom of the seventh inning busted up the shutout, but that was the lone Flame run as UNI improved to 4-0 in conference play with the victory in game one of the doubleheader.

Ava Smithson led UNI with three hits and one run in four at-bats. She drove in three runs. Kylee Sanders also recorded a multi-hit game with a pair of hits in four at-bats. Anna Wischnowski picked up her eighth win of the season with a complete game and three strikeouts.

GAME TWO | UNI 6, UIC 2

Game two of the doubleheader opened slow before the Panthers dropped a five-spot in the top of the fifth inning to take a 5-0 lead. Skylar Benesh drove in Ava Smithson and Sykora Smith with a single for the first two runs of the contest before she was driven in by a single from Kylee Sanders. Addison McElrath hit her eighth home run of the season to round out the heavy scoring frame for the Panthers.

UIC answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning before an RBI double from Addison McElrath gave UNI a four-run lead with a score of 6-2 after the Panthers' offensive half of the seventh inning. The Panthers forced a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh to take home a 6-2 victory in game two of the doubleheader.

The top three in the batting order, Skylar Benesh, Kylee Sanders, and Addison McElrath, all recorded a pair of hits in four at-bats. McElrath led the matchup with three RBIs. Carly Goodwin remained perfect in the circle as she allowed no runs in five innings.

UP NEXT

The Panthers wrap up the series on Saturday, March 22. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and is available to stream on ESPN+.

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.