University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Murray State
Panther softball returns to Robinson-Dresser to open nine-game home stand
4/10/2025 11:50:00 AM | Softball
UNI softball (22-11 / 10-3 MVC) vs. Murray State (14-22 / 4-11 MVC)
- Robinson-Dresser Sports complex | Cedar Falls, Iowa
- April 11 | 5 p.m. CT
- April 12 | 2 p.m. CT
- April 13 | 12 p.m. CT
- ESPN+
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI softball team opens a nine-game home stand with a three-game series against the Murray State Racers starting on Friday, April 11. The Panthers and the Racers have met on six previous occasions with UNI holding a 5-1 lead in the all-time series. The Panthers took all three of the three-game series in 2023 including 4-1 and 3-0 wins in the first-day doubleheader and a dominant 17-0 victory in game three. The Panthers recorded 11 runs in the top of the seventh inning en route to the 17-0, shutout victory.
The Panthers are coming off a 7-1 victory at Drake on Tuesday at Buel Field. The Matchup saw Drew Hinrichs go a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs. Skylar Benesh and Addison McElrath recorded multi-hit performances with two hits apiece. Benesh, McElrath and Katelyn Callahan all recorded RBIs in addition to Hinrichs. In the circle, Anna Wischnowski recorded her 12th win of the season and her 10th complete game of the season with five strikeouts and just one earned run.
Head coach Ryan Jacobs became UNI's all-time winningest coach with a 7-6, eight-inning, comeback win at Illinois. Jacobs is in his 18th season at the Panther helm. UNI's victory over RV Omaha in game five of the 2025 Doc Halverson Classic was Jacobs' 500th victory. He became the eighth head coach in MVC history and the second in UNI history to eclipse the 500-win mark.
As of April 10, the Panthers led the MVC in a number of statistical categories including double plays (14), double plays per game (0.42), home runs (43), home runs per game (1.30), on-base percentage (.391), scoring (5.73), stolen bases per game (2.42), total stolen bases (80), and walks (154). UNI is second in the league in hit by pitch (19), RBIs per game (5.24), slugging percentage (.468), and win/loss percentage (.667) and is third in batting average (.276), doubles per game (1.21), hit batters (10), RBIs (173), and total runs (189).
The Panthers' 2.42 stolen bases per game are 12th in the nation while their 80 total stolen bases are 16th. UNI's 80 stolen bases are 10 away from the program's record of 90 set in 2023.
Kylee Sanders boasts a nation's fourth-best and Valley-leading 2.78 assists per game mark. The shortstop also leads the league with a .452 batting average, 47 total hits, and a .540 on-base percentage. The senior is second in the MVC with 89 assists and is third with five hit by pitches.
Freshman Skylar Benesh has been one of the best in the MVC along the base path with a Valley-leading 17 stolen bases, 0.52 stolen bases per game, and a .895 stolen base percentage. Benesh is seven stolen bases from tying the UNI single-season record set by Kristi Johnson in 2001 with 24 swipes.
Kate Lappe has shown her extra-base hitting this season with a Valley-leading .750 slugging percentage. The infielder is second in the MVC with a .504 on-base percentage and third with 0.25 home runs per game.
Addison McElrath has been one of the best long-ball hitters this season with 10 total home runs and 0.30 per game, both the second-best marks in the Valley.
UNI is looking for its sixth straight season (excluding COVID-19 2020 season) at .500 or better in conference play as well as top three in the league. After the midweek contest at Drake, the Panthers have won 112 conference matchups in that span to just 29 MVC losses. Coach Jacobs is 11 conference victories away from moving up to no. 5 on the Valley's all-time MVC wins chart which is now occupied by Brent Vigness (CU, 1994-2013) with 282 Valley victories.
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.
