University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
3-4
Arkansas - Pine Bluff
2-3
Panthers split day one of the Best on the Bayou Tournament
2/20/2026 7:18:00 PM | Softball
An eight-run sixth gives UNI a victory in game one of day one of the Best on the Bayou.
MONROE, Louisiana — The UNI softball team traveled to Louisiana to take part in the Best on the Bayou Tournament, hosted by the University of Louisiana-Monroe. The Panther offense exploded in the sixth inning of the first game to give UNI a 10-8 victory, but struggled in game two, which fell the way of ULM, 2-1.
GAME ONE | UNI 10, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8
The Panthers were the first on the board as Skylar Benesh scored from second base on an error. Arkansas-Pine Bluff took a lead in the bottom half of the first inning with a one-run double and a two-run single. The Lions held a 3-1 advantage after one inning of play.
Benesh crossed the plate again in the top of the third inning after a home run to cut into the Lion lead. The Cats put up eight runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a seven-run lead. Kaetelyn Callahan was the first Panther to score in the sixth frame with a home run to tie the contest at three runs apiece. A single from pinch-hitter Maddy McDermott scored a pair of runs while a fielder's choice on Skylar Benesh crossed UNI's sixth run of the game.
Kate Lappe broke the game wide open with her first grand slam of the season to give the Panthers a seven-run lead at 10-3 after the visiting-half of the sixth inning.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff worked to come back and put up five runs in the home half of the seventh inning, but could not overcome the UNI lead as the Panthers came away victorious, 10-8.
Ashlyn Enke picked up her first win of the season in the circle with five strikeouts in six innings. Skylar Benesh finished with four hits and three runs in five at-bats with a home run. Kae Lappe drove in a game-high four RBIs with her grand slam home run.
GAME TWO | ULM 2, UNI 1
Brynn Acton got things rolling in game two of the day with a hit that drove in Katelyn Callahan for the Panther lead.
The run was UNI's lone score of the matchup, as Louisiana-Monroe plated one in the bottom of the third inning and one in the sixth to come away with a 2-1 victory.
Skylar Benesh, Katelyn Callahan, and Brynn Acton recorded the lone hits for the Panthers against the Warhawks. Anna Wischnowski finished with four strikeouts in her complete game in the circle.
UP NEXT
The Cats continue the Best on the Bayou Tournament tomorrow with matchups against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Lamar at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. CT, respectively. Neither contest will be available 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 2026 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Enke, Ashlyn (1)
L: Price, Heidi (1)
Batting:
2B: Smith, Sykora 1
HR: Benesh, Skylar 1 ; Callahan, Katelyn 1 ; Lappe, Kate 1
RBI: Benesh, Skylar 2 ; Johnson, Peyton 1 ; McDermott, Maddy 2 ; Callahan, Katelyn 1 ; Lappe, Kate 4
SH: Johnson, Peyton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smithson, Ella 1 ; Benesh, Skylar 3 ; Johnson, Peyton 1 ; Peterson, Paige 1 ; Smith, Sykora 1 ; Callahan, Katelyn 1 ; Lappe, Kate 1 ; Reynolds, Adalyn 1
SB: Benesh, Skylar 3 ; Peterson, Paige 1 ; McDermott, Maddy 1
HBP: Johnson, Peyton 1
Batting:
2B: Gaddis, Ryen 1 ; Perry, Lyric 1
HR: Bryant, Danika 1
RBI: Bryant, Danika 2 ; Jones, Kiya 1 ; Seunarine, Kamea 3 ; King, Allyncia 1 ; Perry, Lyric 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mathis, Janai 1 ; Bryant, Danika 1 ; Jones, Alyssa 1 ; Wilson, Janiah 1 ; Gaddis, Ryen 1 ; Seunarine, Kamea 1 ; Fields, Kaydrian 1 ; Perry, Lyric 1
