Panther softball sweeps opening action at the NKU Tournament

Friday, March 13

Highland Heights, Ky.

8 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

9-10

Detroit Mercy

6-14

Detroit Mercy

Northern Iowa

Panther softball sweeps opening action at the NKU Tournament

3/13/2026 7:26:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Kentucky — The Panthers softball team opened the NKU Tournament with a pair of dominant wins on day one. UNI opened the day with a 6-2 victory over Detroit Mercy, and followed it up with a 14-1, five-inning blowout of Northern Kentucky. The fourth inning was key in both contests, as the Panthers scored six in the fourth against Detroit Mercy and 10 in the fourth against Northern Kentucky.

GAME ONE | UNI 6, Detroit Mercy 2

The Panthers struck first with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch drawn by Drew Hinrichs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Adalyn Reynolds crossed the plate for UNI's first run of the day. Sykora Smith reached base on a fielder's choice, which scored Katelyn Callahan, before a grand slam from Addison Brunner gave UNI a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sykora Smith, Ella Smithson, and Drew Hinrichs were on the base path at the time of the home run.

Detroit Mercy scored two in the top of the sixth inning with a pair of one-run singles to cut the Panther lead to four runs. The Titans weren't able to complete the comeback, as UNI's fourth-inning burst was the difference-maker. The Panthers opened the NKU Tournament with a 6-2 victory.

Addison Brunner drove in four runs with her grand slam in the fourth inning. Paige Peterson, Katelyn Callahan, and Kate Lappe recorded the other hits for UNI. Ashlyn Enke picked up her third win of the season in the circle, with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.

GAME TWO | UNI 14, Northern Kentucky 1 (F/5)

Northern Kentucky got on the board first with their lone run of the game in the bottom of the first inning with a one-run double.

It was all Panthers the rest of the way with two runs in the top of the third inning, 10 in the fourth, and two in the fifth for a 14-1 victory in five innings. An RBI single off the bat of Kate Lappe scored Peyton Johnson, while an error on a ball off the bat of Katelyn Callahan scored Brynn Acton. UNI took a 2-1 lead after the visiting half of the third inning.

The Panthers crossed 10 runs in the top of the fourth inning to put the game well out of reach, starting with back-to-back fielding errors to score Ella Smithson and Peyton Johnson. A single up the middle from Katleyn Callahan scored Acton and Skylar Benesh to give the Cats a 6-1 lead before Kate Lappe scored on a single off the bat of Skyora Smith.

A wild pitch plated Callahan for UNI's eighth run of the game before the Cats scored two on a pair of bases-loaded walks to take a 10-1 lead. Two more Panthers scored on back-to-back wild pitches before the inning was over. Damage was already done in the inning as 10 runs crossed, giving the Panthers a 12-1 lead after the top of the fourth frame.

UNI scored a pair of runs on an error in the top of the fifth before putting the Norse away in the bottom half to claim a 14-1, five-inning win.

Sykora Smith and Peyton Johnson had multi-hit performances, with a pair of hits each. Johnson led the Panthers with three runs scored, while Ella Smithson, Katelyn Callahan, Kate Lappe, and Brynn Acton each scored a pair. In the circle, Carly Goodwin picked up her first victory of the season in a three-inning start. Kelsey Endress pitched two innings in relief and picked up two strikeouts.

UP NEXT

The Panthers continue action at the NKU Tournament on Saturday, March 14, with matchups against Northwestern and Northern Kentucky.

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.