University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
23-11, 0
Murray State
14-23, 0
Panther softball run-rules Murray State with a walk-off walk in five innings
4/11/2025 7:25:00 PM | Softball
UNI softball opens three-game series with a 13-5, five-inning victory over Murray State.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — UNI softball opened a nine-game home stand with game one of a three-game series against the Murray State Racers. After a dominant second inning for the Cats, the Racers stormed back, but were run-ruled with a walk-off walk in the bottom of the fifth inning to hand UNI a 13-5, five-inning win in the series opener.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panther bats got hot early with eight runs in the bottom of the second inning to give the Panthers the big lead early. A second-pitch home run from Katelyn Callahan got UNI on the board before an RBI single from Paige Peterson scored Ella Smithson to give UNI a 2-0 lead. A sacrifice fly from Kylee Sanders scored Ava Smithson before a bases-clearing double from Drew Hinrichs gave the Panthers the 6-0 lead. Peterson, Skylar Benesh, and Addison McElrath scored on the double. A home run from Lappe capped off the Panther scoring in the bottom of the second after eight runs crossed the plate. UNI tacked on another with Sanders crossing the plate in the bottom of the third on a wild pitch.
Murray State responded with five runs in the top of the fourth inning to cut UNI's lead to four runs at 9-5. The bottom of the fourth inning saw Paige Peterson get a run back with the first home run of her career. UNI's lead was extended to five runs at 10-5. Three Panthers crossed the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning, all walking home to take home a 13-5, run-rule victory. Callahan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to cross Sanders, Ella Smithson drew a bases-loaded walk to score Makenna Kuper and Ava Smithson drew a bases-loaded walk to score Drew Hinrichs.
Addison McElrath and Paige Peterson were the lone Panthers with multi-hit performances. Both recorded two hits. Drew Hinrichs led the matchup with three RBIs. In the circle, Anna Wischnowski picked up her 13th victory of the season in four innings pitched with three strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Panthers continue the series against Murray State on Saturday, April 12. First pitch at Robinson-Dresser is slated for 2 p.m. CT and will be 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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wischnowski, Anna (13-5)
L: Karlye Graber (5-8)
Batting:
2B: Riley Jestadt 1 ; Bailey Broemmer 1 ; Taylor Franzen 1
RBI: Katy Huels 1 ; Ailey Schyck 1 ; Bailey Broemmer 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kenley Minor 1 ; Kayleigh White 1 ; Riley Jestadt 1 ; Bailey Broemmer 1 ; Taylor Franzen 1
SB: Bailey Broemmer 1
CS: Katy Huels 1
Batting:
2B: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Hinrichs, Drew 1
HR: Lappe, Kate 1 ; Callahan, Katelyn 1 ; Peterson, Paige 1
RBI: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Hinrichs, Drew 3 ; Lappe, Kate 2 ; Callahan, Katelyn 2 ; Smithson, Ella 1 ; Smithson, Ava 1 ; Peterson, Paige 2
SF: Sanders, Kylee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Benesh, Skylar 1 ; Sanders, Kylee 2 ; McElrath, Addison 1 ; Kuper, Makenna 1 ; Hinrichs, Drew 2 ; Lappe, Kate 1 ; Callahan, Katelyn 1 ; Smithson, Ella 1 ; Smithson, Ava 1 ; Peterson, Paige 2
SB: Kuper, Makenna 1 ; Smithson, Ella 1
HBP: Callahan, Katelyn 1
