University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
23-12, 0
Murray State
15-23, 0
Panther softball falls to Murray State in the highest-scoring game in program history
4/12/2025 5:30:00 PM | Softball
UNI softball battled a big deficit early, but was defeated in extra innings 16-15
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — UNI softball continued its series against Murray State on Saturday, April 12. The Racers jumped out to a big lead early before the Panthers put up seven runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the contest. Murray State extended back out before the Panther bats came in clutch in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extras. Murray State's home run in the top of the eighth proved to be the difference maker as the Racer defeated the Panthers by a score of 16-15 in eight innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Racers got things moving early with four runs over the first two innings including a three-run home run in the top of the first. After their half of the second inning, the Racers held a 4-0 advantage. Katelyn Callahan responded with a no-doubter home run in the bottom of the second inning to cut into the Murray State lead.
Four Racer runs crossed the plate in the top of the third to give the visitors an 8-1 lead before a four-run inning in the bottom of the third from the Panthers tied the contest at eight. A three-run home run from Kylee Sanders opened the Panther scoring in the home-half of the inning before a sacrifice fly from Callahan scored Adalyn Reynolds. With two on, two out, and a full count, Ella Smithson popped up a foul ball to the catcher for what looked to be the final out of the inning. Instead, a dropped foul ball by Murray State gave UNI another chance at the plate. Smithson took the next pitch deep to left field to tie the game at eight after three full innings of play.
The Panthers tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth inning off the bat of Kylee Sanders with an RBI single to score Skylar Benesh and give the Cats a 9-8 advantage. Ava Smithson tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a home run to push the Panther lead to two.
Murray State took a five-run lead with seven unanswered runs spanning the top of the sixth and seventh innings. With their backs to the wall, UNI forced extra innings with five runs in the bottom of the seventh. Ava Smithson drew a bases-loaded walk to score Kate Lappe before a blooper from Kylee Sanders found outfield grass to drive in Paige Peterson and Ava Smithson. With two outs on the board, Addison McElrath came in clutch for the Cats and knocked down a two-RBI double to tie the game at 15 after Benesh and Sanders crossed on the hit.
Murray State struck first in the top of the eighth inning with a leadoff home run to give the Racers a 16-15 advantage. UNI looked to answer in the bottom of the eighth and put runners on base, but could not get any across the plate as the Racers took game two by a 16-15 final score in eight innings.
Kylee Sanders finished with three hits and two runs in four at-bats with a career-high six RBIs. The 31 total runs is the most combined runs in a single game in UNI history.
UP NEXT
The Panthers conclude the series against Murray State on Sunday, April 13. First pitch at Robinson-Dresser is slated for 12 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: Bre Haislip (6-10)
L: McDermott, Maddy (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Parker Holcombe 1 ; Riley Jestadt 1
HR: Hannah Sutton 1 ; Ailey Schyck 1 ; Taylor Franzen 2
RBI: Kenley Minor 1 ; Hannah Sutton 5 ; Ailey Schyck 3 ; Riley Jestadt 3 ; Bailey Broemmer 1 ; Taylor Franzen 3
SH: Taylor Franzen 1
SF: Bailey Broemmer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kenley Minor 2 ; Parker Holcombe 3 ; Hannah Sutton 3 ; Summer Ray 1 ; Ailey Schyck 2 ; Kayleigh White 1 ; Riley Jestadt 2 ; Taylor Franzen 2
SB: Kenley Minor 1 ; Riley Jestadt 1
Batting:
2B: McElrath, Addison 2
HR: Sanders, Kylee 1 ; Callahan, Katelyn 1 ; Smithson, Ella 1 ; Smithson, Ava 1
RBI: Sanders, Kylee 6 ; McElrath, Addison 2 ; Callahan, Katelyn 2 ; Smithson, Ella 3 ; Smithson, Ava 2
SF: Callahan, Katelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Benesh, Skylar 3 ; Sanders, Kylee 2 ; Reynolds, Adalyn 1 ; Hinrichs, Drew 1 ; Lappe, Kate 2 ; Callahan, Katelyn 1 ; Smithson, Ella 1 ; Smithson, Ava 2 ; Peterson, Paige 2
SB: Benesh, Skylar 1
CS: Benesh, Skylar 1
