Panther softball completes 10-run comeback to split the day

Saturday, February 7

Cedar Falls, Iowa

4:30 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

1-1

Omaha

4-0

Omaha

Northern Iowa

Photo by: © Andy Saigh

Panther softball completes 10-run comeback to split the day

2/7/2026 10:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

UNI comes back from down 11-1 to win 15-11 against Butler in game two of the day.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI softball team completed a double-digit comeback in game two of Saturday to split matchups in the second day of the Doc Halverson Classic. A 7-6 loss in extra innings against powerhouse Omaha led to a marathon of a matchup with Butler that saw 26 combined runs and a 10-run comeback victory for the Cats.

GAME ONE | Omaha 7, UNI 6 (8 Innings)

Omaha got on the board first in the top of the third inning. Peyton Johnson answered in the bottom half of the frame with a triple down the left field line to score Benesh. Johnson tried to stretch the triple into an inside-the-park home run, but was thrown out at the plate. A two-out double in the bottom of the fourth inning off the bat of Paige Peterson gave the Cats a 3-1 lead as Ella Smithson and Sykora Smith crossed the plate.

A pair of Maverick runs tied the contest and a three-run home run gave Omaha a three-run lead at 6-3 in the top of the fifth inning. Katelyn Callahan cut the Panther deficit to two runs with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In crunch time in the bottom of the seventh inning, Kate Lappe stepped up and sent a ball over the UNI Purple Monster in left field with Adalyn Reynolds on base to tie the contest at six a piece.

Omaha plated the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning to claim a 7-6, extra-inning victory over the Panthers who dropped to 1-1 after the loss to Omaha.

Katelyn Callahan went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run and a double against Omaha. Skylar Benesh and Sykora Smith each posted multi-hit performances.

GAME TWO | UNI 15, Butler 11

A trio of runs from Butler in the top of the first inning opened a late-night contest between the Panthers and the Bulldogs. Skylar Benesh sent a deep shot past the fence to answer in the bottom of the first inning to cut the Butler lead to two runs.

A three-run home run from the Bulldogs in the top of the second inning and five runs in the top of the third inning gave Butler an 11-1 lead after the visiting half of the frame.

The Cats came alive in the following innings as a Skylar Benesh home run, her second of the game, tacked on UNI's second run of the game and opened the floodgates of Panther scoring. UNI scored eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Butler lead to one run at 11-10. A two-run home run from Brynn Acton plated Sykora Smith before Benesh drove in Paige Peterson, a sacrifice fly from Katelyn Callahan plated Benesh, Ella Smithson drove in Peyton Johnson, Sykora Smith drove in Kate Lappe, and Acton drove in two more.

The Panther defense followed up the eight-run frame with three up and three down before the offense took the lead for the first time all night with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with Johnson and Lappe both crossing the plate.

The defense liked the top of the fifth inning so much, they did it again. Back-to-back three up, three down innings saw UNI hold a 12-11 lead heading into the home half of the sixth frame. The Cats scored on a trio of runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 15-11 lead into the visiting half of the final frame. The Panther defense held tough and took down the Butler offense in the top of the seventh to come away with the 10-run comeback.

Skylar Benesh had a career day against Butler with four runs and three hits in three at-bats with two home runs. Freshman Brynn Acton had the third Panther home run of the game, the first of her collegiate career. Sykora Smith finished with three hits and two runs.

UP NEXT

The Cats wrap up the Doc Halverson classic on Sunday with contests against Kansas City at 12:30 p.m. CT and against Iowa State at 3:00 p.m. CT. Both matchups 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.