University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Illinois State
Panthers host Illinois State in Robinson-Dresser opener
3/26/2026 12:09:00 PM | Softball
UNI softball (15-12 / 3-2 MVC) vs. Illinois State (17-9 / 7-2 MVC)
- Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex | Cedar Falls, Iowa
- March 27 | 12 & 2:30 p.m. CT
- March 28 | 2 p.m. CT
- ESPN+
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The Panthers touch home-field grass for the first time this season as they host the Illinois State Redbirds for a three-game series on Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28. UNI has not played a home game since February 8, and has not played at Robinson-Dresser since May 4 of last season. Friday's first game will be the 105th meeting between these two programs, with the Redbirds holding an 80-43-1 advantage in the all-time series. The Panthers took 2-of-3 last season with a 9-8 victory in game one and a 12-4, six-inning victory in game two. Illinois State won game three, 5-4. The Cats have not lost a regular-season series to the Illinois State Redbirds since 2015, when UNI went 1-2 at Illinois State with a 6-4 victory in game one and 5-3 losses in games two and three. The Panthers are 17-5 in the last 22 regular-season meetings, dating back to 2018.
UNI is coming off a 10-4 victory at Illinois on Tuesday, the Panthers' third all-time victory over the Fighting Illini. The Panther bats came to play, as UNI put up seven runs in the first inning, thanks to back-to-back home runs from Brynn Acton and Kate Lappe, to set the tone for an offense-heavy contest. UNI finished the game with a 10-4 victory, its first Big Ten win of the season.
Skylar Benesh, Kate Lappe, and Sykora Smith each recorded a pair of hits. Lappe finished with two hits, one run, and a pair of RBIs with a home run and a double in two at-bats and two walks. Brynn Acton, Sykora Smith, and Finley Netten also finished with two RBIs. Maddy McDermott picked up her second win of the season in a 4.1-inning start.
As of March 26, UNI leads the MVC in multiple statistical categories, including batting average (.318), doubles (50), doubles per game (1.85), fewest hit batters (6), hits (233), home runs (41), home runs per game (1.52), on-base percentage (.430), RBIs per game (6.70), total RBIs (181), scoring (7.37), slugging percentage (.568), total runs (199), total sacrifice flies (10), and walks (136). The Cats have the 23rd-most doubles per game, 24th-most home runs per game, runs scored per game, and 25th-most RBIs per game and runs scored.
Individually, Kate Lappe has drawn the nation's 11th-most walks per game this season with 0.93, which leads the Valley. The senior has the 13th-best slugging percentage in Division I, with a Valley-leading 1.038. She also leads the league with a .596 on-base percentage, 1.19 RBIs per game, and 81 total bases, and is second in the MVC with a .462 batting average, 10 doubles (0.37 doubles per game), 11 home runs (0.41 home runs per game), and 32 RBIs.
Skylar Benesh leads the Valley with a .467 batting average, 43 hits, and 1.26 runs per game. The sophomore second baseman is second in the league with a .870 slugging percentage and 80 total bases, and is third in the conference with 10 home runs, 0.37 home runs per game, and a .532 on-base percentage.
With two victories against the Beacons, Coach Jacobs moved up to No. 5 on the Valley's MVC wins list, passing Brent Vigness (CU, 1994-2013) with 282 Valley wins. Jacobs sits with 283 MVC victories and is one shy of Rich Calvert (DU, 2003-23) in the No. 4 spot with 284 league wins.
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, 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 UNI's series against Valparaiso, the Panthers have won 124 conference matchups in that span to just 36 MVC losses.
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.
