Ryan Jacobs ties UNI softball all-time wins in a victory over UIC

Saturday, March 22

Chicago, Ill.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

17-8, 0

UIC

4-26, 0

Northern Iowa

UIC Flames

Photo by: © Andy Saigh

Ryan Jacobs ties UNI softball all-time wins in a victory over UIC

3/22/2025 5:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Final Stats

UIC softball remains perfect in MVC play with a 16-4 victory at UIC.

CHICAGO — UNI softball rounded out the weekend at UIC with a 16-4 victory. The win is head coach Ryan Jacobs' 514th, tying him for UNI's all-time coaching wins.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Panthers opened early with three runs over the first two innings. The run saw a single from Addison McElrath that scored Skylar Benesh in the first inning as well as a home run from Sykora Smith and an RBI-triple from Kylee Sanders.

UIC scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-3 lead before UNI cracked off for 13 unanswered runs to take home a 16-4 victory. Ava Smithson scored the game-tying run in the top of the fourth inning before a pair of home runs in the top of the fifth inning gave UNI a 6-4 lead in the contest. Kate Lappe and Ava Smithson sent the shots deep for UNI.

Kylee Sanders belted a home run in the top of the sixth inning before Addison McElrath scored on a sac fly from Sykora Smith to give UNI an 8-4 lead. The Cat offense showed why UNI is the top team in the Valley in the top of the seventh inning with eight runs in the final frame. Three bases-loaded walks, a single, a double, a passed ball and a hit-by-pitch in the seventh gave UNI a commanding 16-4 lead to end the contest.

Ava Smithson finished with four runs in two at-bats to lead the Panthers. Sykora Smith drove in four runs in the matchup. Anna Wischnowski picked up her eighth win of the season after five innings in the circle and four strikeouts. Head coach Ryan Jacobs tied Meredith Bakley for UNI's all-time softball wins with 514 after the 16-4 victory at UIC.

UP NEXT

The Panthers head to Champaign, Illinois to take on Illinois on Tuesday, March 25. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT with the matchup streamed 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.

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Next Event

Illinois

W, 7-6

Mar 25 (Tue)

5 p.m.

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Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Wischnowski, Anna (9-4)

L: MCINTOSH, Alyssa (2-10)

Northern Iowa

Batting:

2B: Benesh, Skylar 1 ; Sanders, Kylee 1

HR: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Lappe, Kate 1 ; Smith, Sykora 1 ; Smithson, Ava 1

RBI: Sanders, Kylee 2 ; McElrath, Addison 1 ; Kuper, Makenna 1 ; Hinrichs, Drew 2 ; Lappe, Kate 2 ; Callahan, Katelyn 1 ; Smith, Sykora 4 ; Smithson, Ava 1

SH: Benesh, Skylar 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Benesh, Skylar 2 ; Sanders, Kylee 2 ; McElrath, Addison 1 ; Kuper, Makenna 1 ; Hinrichs, Drew 1 ; Lappe, Kate 2 ; Callahan, Katelyn 1 ; Smith, Sykora 1 ; Smithson, Ava 4 ; Morris, Eve 1