University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Valparaiso
Panther softball claims series win over Valparaiso
3/22/2026 4:48:00 PM | Softball
VALPARAISO, Indiana — The UNI softball team closed a three-game series in Valparaiso, Indiana, on Sunday, March 22. The Panther bats picked up where they left off after a 13-0 six-inning victory in game two, with an 11-6 victory in game three to claim the series over Valparaiso.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beacons got on the board first with a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the first inning. The bunt, right over the front of the plate, scored one run for Valparaiso, who took an early lead. UNI responded in the top of the second inning with a pair of runs on RBI-singles from Peyton Johnson and Skylar Benesh.
Kate Lappe continued her dominant season, with her 10th home run of the year in the top of the third inning to extend UNI's lead to 3-1. The Cats scored five in the top of the fifth inning, beginning with a two-RBI single off the bat of Ava Smithson, continuing her hot weekend. A Sykora Smith single scored Katelyn Callahan, before a double off the bat of Peyton Johnson plated Smith and Smithson. The Panthers held an 8-1 lead after five innings of play.
The top of the sixth inning saw an RBI-double from Callahan to score Lappe, before she crossed the plate on an RBI-single from Ava Smithson. The Beacons answered in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run home run to cut the deficit to seven runs at 10-3 after six full innings in the books.
A single from Skylar Benesh scored Brynlee Slockett and gave UNI an 11-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Valparaiso started a comeback with a leadoff home run and a pair of runs to cut the lead to five runs at 11-6. With one out, Skylar Benesh fielded a one-hopper, stepped on second base to put out the runner at first, and fired a laser over to Kate Lappe at first base to turn the game-ending double play.
BY THE NUMBERS
Peyton Johnson finished with three hits in the contest, while Skylar Benesh, Katelyn Callahan, Ava Smithson, and Sykora Smith each finished with a pair. Johnson recorded three RBIs and a run with two doubles in four at-bats. Benesh and Smithson each drove in a pair of runs. IN the circle, Anna Wischnowski picked up her sixth victory of the season in a four-inning relief effort. Wischnowski finished with three strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Panthers head to Champaign, Illinois, to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Tuesday, March 24. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on B1G+.
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.
