UNI softball blanks Beacons in regular season finale

Sunday, May 4

Cedar Falls, Iowa

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

31-17, 0

Valparaiso

20-29, 0

Valparaiso

UNI

Photo by: © Andy Saigh

UNI softball blanks Beacons in regular season finale

5/4/2025 4:06:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lappe drives in Panthers’ record-tying 73rd team home run of the year as UNI locks up three-seed for MVC Tournament.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI drew five walks in the first two innings and cashed in on a big multi-run home run in the second stanza on Sunday as the Panthers shutout the Valparaiso Beacons by a score of 7-0 at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex to round out the 2025 regular season.

With the win, Northern Iowa finishes the regular season with a 31-17 record overall, its tenth campaign of 31 or more wins under head coach Ryan Jacobs and fifth consecutive. The Panthers also finish 19-8 in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play, locking up the three-seed for this coming week's MVC Tournament in Des Moines.

Following the game, UNI recognized its senior class, including Kate Lappe, Savanna Jemillo, Addison McElrath, Kylee Sanders and Kara Maiers.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Northern Iowa cracked the scoreboard early with Sanders notching a one out single, leading to back-to-back walks by McElrath and Drew Henricks to load the bases. Lappe would open the scoring with a third straight drawn walk, while Katelyn Callahan would score another run with an RBI single up the middle for a 2-0 Panther lead. Ella Smithson added UNI's third run of the opening frame with its fourth walk of the frame to score Henricks, extending the Panther lead to 3-0.

The Panthers continued their offense showcase in the second as Skylar Benesh drew a lead off walk. After a Sanders groundout to advance Benesh to second, McElrath would drive in Benesh with an RBI single up the middle for a 4-0 lead. In the very next at bat, Lappe would show off her strength, crushing a towering home run to right field to put the Panthers ahead 6-0 with Northern Iowa's 73rd home run of the season, tying the program's single-season record from 2023.

UNI would tack on another run in the bottom of the fourth as Sanders led off the inning with a walk. Pinch running for Sanders, Adalyn Reynolds would move up to second on a stolen base as Lappe drew a four-pitch walk with two outs. With a pair of runners on base, Callahan scored her second RBI of the day on a pop up that fell in the shallow infield to score Reynolds for a 7-0 lead.

Maiers threw seven shutout innings, finishing the afternoon with four strikeouts, along with three walks and six hits allowed, picking up her second win of the season.

UP NEXT
The Panthers head to Des Moines for the 2025 MVC Tournament beginning with a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday against an opponent to be determined at Buel Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT with live coverage of the tournament can be found 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.