Panther softball splits MVC-opening doubleheader

Friday, March 6

Murray, Ky.

1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

, 0

Murray State

, 0

Northern Iowa

Murray St.

Photo by: Garrett Hoyt

Panther softball splits MVC-opening doubleheader

3/6/2026 6:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

MURRAY, Kentucky — The UNI Panther softball team opened Valley play in Murray, Kentucky, on Friday, March 6, with a doubleheader against the Murray State Racers. Murray State worked a seventh-inning comeback in game one and forced an eighth inning, where they went on to take home a 10-9 victory. UNI got its revenge in game two with an 11-4 win.

GAME ONE | Murray State 10, UNI 9 (F/8)

The Racer offense came out hot with a four-run bottom of the first to take an early lead. Murray State scored its first run on a passed ball, its second on an RBI-single, and its third and fourth on another single.

A two-out single from Katelyn Callahan in the top of the third inning cut the Murray State lead in half before an explosive top of the fourth gave the Cats an 8-4 lead. After replacing Drew Hinrichs on the base path, Adalyn Reynolds was the first of six Panthers to cross the plate in the top half of the fourth frame off the bat of Finley Netten. A triple from Skylar Benesh later in the inning plated Paige Peterson to tie the contest at four before Benesh came across on a sacrifice fly from Brynn Acton gave UNI a 5-4 lead. Katelyn Callahan continued her dominant game with a double to score Kate Lappe before a single from Peyton Johnson drove Callahan home for UNI's seventh run of the day. A triple from Addison Brunner, pinch-hitting for Ella Smithson, plated Johnson to complete UNI's six-run inning and give the Panthers an 8-4 lead.

The Racers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to answer and cut the UNI lead to two runs before a home run from Kate Lappe in the top of the fifth pushed the lead back out to three runs at 9-6.

With their backs against the wall, the Racers scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game and force extra innings, where they scored the lone run to claim a 10-9 victory in eight innings in game one of the Friday doubleheader.

Katelyn Callahan finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and a run scored. Kate Lappe finished with two hits and two runs in four at-bats, including UNI's lone home run of the contest. In the circle, Anna Wischnowski pitched her fifth complete game of the season with four strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched.

GAME TWO | UNI 11, Murray State 4

The bats for the Panthers came to play early with a four-run opening frame to take a quick lead. A single from Katelyn Callahan drove in Skylar Benesh for UNI's first run of game two before a sacrifice fly from Peyton Johnson drove in Brynn Acton. A two-run single from Drew Hinrichs scored Kate Lappe and Katelyn Callahan to give UNI an early 4-0 lead over Murray State.

Skylar Benesh tacked on the Panthers' fifth run of the game with a solo home run in the top of the second inning before Murray State scored four unanswered runs between the bottom of the second and fourth innings to cut into the UNI lead. The scoring barrage included two solo home runs from the Racers.

Skylar Benesh drove in another run in the top of the sixth with a double to score Finley Netten before she was plated with a double off the bat of Acton. The Cats scored four more runs in the top of the seventh inning to take an 11-4 lead heading into the bottom half of the final frame. Another double from Drew Hinrichs scored Adalyn Reynolds before a double from Ella Smithson drove in Eve Morris and Neela Applegate. Ella Smithson came around the bases later in the inning on another RBI from Benesh to score UNI's final run of the contest.

Four batters appeared for the Racers in the home half of the seventh, but a strikeout, a fly out, and a putout at second were how they went down to wrap up game two of UNI's first MVC doubleheader of the season.

Skylar Benesh was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs and three RBIs as well as a home run. Brynn Acton, Peyton Johnson, and Drew Hinrichs each had a pair of hits in the contest while Hinrichs drove in a pair of runs. In the circle, Morgan Vertz picked up her first win of the season in a 3.1-inning relief effort. She allowed no runs and struck out three batters.

UP NEXT

The Panthers return to Racer Field for game three of their conference-opening series against the Murray State Racers on Saturday, March 7, at 1 p.m. CT. The matchup will be available 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.