University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Valparaiso
Panther softball gets back to conference play in Valparaiso, Indiana
3/20/2026 12:06:00 PM | Softball
UNI softball (12-11 / 1-1 MVC) at Valparaiso (12-14 / 1-4 MVC)
- Valparaiso Softball Complex | Valparaiso, Indiana
- March 21 | 12:00 & 2:30 p.m. CT
- March 22 | 1:00 p.m. CT
- ESPN+
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — UNI is back on the road for another three-game, MVC series at Valparaiso, March 21 and 22. The series between the Panthers and the Beacons was originally scheduled for a March 20 doubleheader and a March 21 single, but was rescheduled for March 21 and 22 due to weather. UNI is 24-2 all-time against the Beacons, including wins in the last four games, including all three matchups last season. UNI claimed 4-1, 6-1, and 7-0 victories over Valparaiso at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex last year, with four combined home runs across the series, two from Kate Lappe.
UNI is coming off a 4-1 weekend in Kentucky at the Northern Kentucky Tournament. UNI opened the weekend with a 6-2 victory over Detroit Mercy on Friday, before four straight run-rule contests to round out the weekend. The Panthers beat Northern Kentucky, 14-1 in five innings, in game two of Friday before its lone loss of the weekend came in a 10-2, six-inning loss to Northwestern. The Cats wrapped up the week with a pair of victories over Northern Kentucky by scores of 11-3 in five innings and 17-4 in six innings.
Kate Lappe finished the Panthers' weekend with a .583 batting average, with seven hits, six runs, and five RBIs in 12 at-bats and seven walks. The senior tallied a 1.000 slugging percentage with two doubles and a home run to go along with 12 total bases in her five starts. Lappe was 4-for-5 (.800) with runners in scoring position and a 9-for-11 (.818) success at advancing runners.
Both Skylar Benesh and Sykora Smith finished the weekend with a .375 batting average. The pair had nearly identical stat lines, with six hits and a home run in 16 at-bats. Smith batted in six runs, while Benesh drove in five.
In the circle, Carly Goodwin picked up a pair of wins for the Panthers, her first of the season. Ashlyn Enke led UNI with eight strikeouts in 7.2 innings last weekend, while Anna Wischnowski tallied seven in a 5.0-inning complete game.
The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) announced its weekly softball awards on Tuesday morning. Peyton Johnson was named MVC Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season. Johnson recorded a .364 batting average with four hits, four runs, and seven RBIs in 11 at-bats (with six walks). She had a .636 slugging percentage in UNI's 4-1 weekend with a home run and seven total bases.
As of March 16, UNI leads the MVC in multiple statistical categories, including batting average (.305), home runs (31), home runs per game (1.35), on-base percentage (.421), RBIs per game (6.35), total RBIs (146), scoring (7.04), slugging percentage (.534), total runs (162), and walks (117). The Cats have the 25th-most walks (117) in the nation. UNI is second in the Valley in doubles (39), doubles per game (1.70), and fewest hit batters (6).Â
Individually, Kate Lappe leads the Valley with the nation's 28th-best on-base percentage (.568). The senior is third in the Valley and 18th in the nation with 0.87 drawn walks per contest. Lappe leads the MVC with a .910 slugging percentage and is second in the league with eight doubles and 1.09 RBIs per game. Lappe is third in the league with 0.35 doubles per game, eight total home runs, 0.35 home runs per game, and 61 total bases. Skylar Benesh leads the Valley with 35 hits and is second in the conference with a .455 batting average, nine home runs, 0.39 home runs per game, 1.26 runs per game, a .883 slugging percentage, and 68 total bases.
Six new faces grace the Panther roster, including two transfers and four freshmen. Kelsey Endress joins the Cats after a three-year career at Florida Atlantic, while Peyton Johnson spent a pair of seasons at Kirkwood Community College before transferring to UNI.
The Panthers return four All-Valley honorees from a season ago, including 2025 All-Defensive team honoree Ella Smithson and All-Conference honorees Kate Lappe, Skylar Benesh, and Anna Wischnowski. UNI also returns the Missouri Valley Conference MVP, Kate Lappe.
Kate Lappe is coming off a season that saw her finish the 2025 campaign with 61 hits, 34 runs, and 48 RBIs for a .433 batting average and a .915 slugging percentage. Her 19 home runs are tied for second on UNI's single-season home runs record list while her batting average and slugging percentage are second in each single-season category along with her .542 on-base percentage. Through the MVC Tournament, Lappe led the league in batting average, home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and total bases and was second in home runs per game, RBIs, RBIs per game, and total walks. She was named MVC Player of the Week twice and D1Softball.com National Player of the Week once during the 2025 regular season.
Last season the Panthers broke three team records, including home runs (79), walks (244), and stolen bases (94). UNI was ninth in the nation last season with 1.58 home runs per game, 10th with 244 total walks, and 22nd with 94 total stolen bases.
UNI recorded its sixth straight season (excluding COVID-19 2020 season) at .500 or better in conference play as well as top three in the league. After the weekend against Valparaiso, the Panthers have won 121 conference matchups in that span to just 34 MVC losses. Coach Jacobs is two conference victories away from moving up to no. 5 on the Valley's all-time MVC wins chart, which is now occupied by Brent Vigness (CU, 1994-2013) with 282 Valley victories.
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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.
