Panthers split the final day of the Big Red Spring Fling

Sunday, March 9

Lincoln, Neb.

11 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

11-7

Northern Colorado

7-13

Northern Colorado

Northern Iowa

Photo by: Bell Rogers

Panthers split the final day of the Big Red Spring Fling

3/9/2025 5:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Final Stats (Northern Colorado)Final Stats (Nebraska)

UNI softball closes non-conference play with a split against Northern Colorado and #19 Nebraska.

LINCOLN, Neb. — UNI softball wrapped up non-conference play with day two of the Big Red Spring Fling. In game one, the Panthers took home a 6-2 victory over Northern Colorado before falling to #19 Nebraska in five innings by a score of 9-1.

GAME ONE | UNI 6, Northern Colorado 2

The Panthers got on the board early with a two-run homerun from Brynlee Slockett, the first of her career, after a triple from Katelyn Callahan, the first Panther triple of the season. Addison McElrath scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the third inning to give UNI a 3-0 lead.

A homerun by Northern Colorado in the top of the fourth inning cut the UNI lead to two before Ava Smithson belted her second homerun of the year. The three-run shot saw Slockett and Sykora Smith cross the plate to put the Panthers up 6-1. A homerun from the Bears in the top of the sixth inning cut the UN lead to four, but the Bears were unable to complete the comeback as UNI took home a 6-2 victory.

Carly Goodwin recorded the first complete game of her career with six strikeouts in her seven innings in the circle. She improved to 2-0 on the season with the victory. Kylee Sanders and Drew Hinrichs finished with a pair of hits each on three at-bats.

GAME TWO | #19 Nebraska 9, UNI 1 (5 Inn.)

The Panthers opened the contest with a run on an RBI single from Drew Hinrichs which advanced Skylar Benesh. Besnesh hit her first double of the season to get into scoring position. A 1-2-3 inning from the Huskers followed, but that was the lone scoreless inning for Nebraska as the offensive powerhouse recorded a run in the second, four in the third, and four in the fourth to take home a 9-1, five-inning victory.

Skylar Benesh was the lone Panther with multiple hits. She finished with two doubles. Anna Wischnowski picked up the loss in the circle, her fourth of the season.

UP NEXT

The Panthers open the conference slate with a trio of matchups at Evansville on March 14-16. Games will be 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.