Panthers stun Bulldogs with comeback walk-off winner

Tuesday, April 15

Cedar Falls, Iowa

5 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

24-13, 0

Drake

17-24, 0

Drake

Northern Iowa

Photo by: © Andy Saigh

Panthers stun Bulldogs with comeback walk-off winner

4/15/2025 7:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Final Stats

UNI softball erases a 6-0 deficit to walk off with an 8-7 victory.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — UNI softball continued its series against Drake on Tuesday night with a dramatic game two. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, but the Panthers mounted a fierce comeback, highlighted by a grand slam from Ella Smithson. Kate Lappe sealed the win with a walk-off single in the seventh, lifting UNI to a thrilling 8-7 victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Bulldogs raced out to an early lead, plating two runs in the top of the first inning, adding a three-run home run in the second, and tacking on another run in the fourth to take a 6-0 advantage. The Panthers quickly swung the momentum, as Addison McElrath delivered a solo home run, followed by a grand slam off the bat of Ella Smithson to narrow the deficit to 6-5. Smithson's blast marked the second home run of her career and the Panthers' third grand slam of the season — their first at home.

Drake answered with a solo home run in the top of the fifth to push the lead to 7-5, but UNI responded in the bottom half. Kate Lappe drove in Makenna Kuper with an RBI double, then came around to score the tying run on an RBI single from Smithson, leveling the game at 7-7 heading into the sixth.

UNI's defense locked in down the stretch, retiring the Bulldogs in order in both the sixth and seventh innings to keep the game tied and set the stage for late-inning heroics.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers completed the comeback in walk-off fashion. After Adalyn Reynolds reached base, Kate Lappe delivered the game-winning hit — a sharp single that brought Reynolds home and sealed the 8-7 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

Drew Hinrichs stayed perfect against the Bulldogs, going 3-for-3 at the plate, while Kate Lappe added a 3-for-4 performance. Ella Smithson led all players with a game-high five RBIs. In the circle, freshman Morgan Vertz earned her seventh win of the season, tossing five innings of relief with two strikeouts and allowing just one earned run.

UP NEXT

The Panthers close the series against Drake on Wednesday, April 16, with a makeup game from April 1. First pitch at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex is scheduled for 5 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.