Panthers split series-opening doubleheader with Valparaiso

Saturday, March 21

Valparaiso, Ind.

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

12-12, 1-2

Valparaiso

13-14, 2-4

UNI

Valparaiso

Photo by: James Richards - Valparaiso

Panthers split series-opening doubleheader with Valparaiso

3/21/2026 7:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

VALPARAISO, Indiana — The UNI softball team traveled to Valparaiso, Indiana, to take on the Valparaiso Beacons in MVC action. The Cats and the Beacons split series-opening action, with Valpo taking home the game-one victory, while UNI rallied in game two to walk away with a victory.

GAME ONE | Valparaiso 4, UNI 3

The Panthers were the first team on the board in game one of Saturday's double header with an RBI-single off the bat of Skylar Benesh in the top of the second inning.

The Beacons responded with three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead over the Panthers before Ava Smithson cut into the deficit with a home run on her first at-bat of the season after suffering an injury in the top of the first inning in the season opener.

Valpo scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a double. UNI scored their third run of the day on a home run from Skylar Benesh, but fell short in their comeback attempt, losing 4-3 in game one.

Skylar Benesh, Kate Lappe, and Peyton Johnson each recorded a pair of hits in the contest. Benesh drove in three RBIs and scored a run with one home run. Kate Lappe recorded a triple. In the circle, Kelsey Endress and Morgan Vertz combined for five strikeouts.

GAME TWO | UNI 13, Valparaiso 0 (F/6)

Northern Iowa's bats got hot early in game two of the day with four runs in the opening inning. A pair of two-run home runs from Kate Lappe and Sykora Smith set the tone for what would be an offense-heavy contest.

Three scoreless innings for both teams gave way to a one-run top of the fifth inning from UNI on a single up the middle from Peyton Johnson. Johnson's single scored Ava Smithson for the Cats' fifth run of game two.

UNI dominated the top of the sixth inning with eight runs to claim a 13-0 run-rule victory. A double to left-center field from Kate Lappe got things moving, as Skylar Benesh and Brynlee Slockett scored. Ava Smithson had her second home run of the day with Lappe on base for two more runs before a single off the bat of Finley Netten scored Sykora Smith. Brynlee Slockett sent a ball deep with Netten and Paige Peterson on base to wrap up the contest's scoring, as UNI took home a 13-0 victory in six innings.

Six Panthers recorded two hits, including Skylar Benesh, Kate Lappe, Katelyn Callahan, Ava Smithson, Sykora Smith, and Brynlee Slockett. The Panthers hit four home runs and four doubles in game two. In the circle, Anna Wischnowski picked up her fifth win of the season in her seventh complete game of the year with three strikeouts.

UP NEXT

The Panthers round out their series with the Beacons on Sunday, March 21, with round three of the three-game meeting. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT in Indiana, and will be available to stream 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.