University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panther softball sweeps a series-opening doubleheader against UIC
4/10/2026 9:01:00 PM | Softball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI Panther softball team opened its series with the UIC Flames with a pair of high-octane wins. UNI took home a 12-9 victory in game one before a six-inning victory in game two. The day featured nine Panther home runs, including three from Ava Smithson.
GAME ONE | UNI 12, UIC 9
UNI got the bats moving early with three first-inning runs. A two-run home run in Kate Lappe's first at-bat of the afternoon was followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat of Sykora Smith to drive in Katelyn Callahan. The Panthers held a 3-0 lead after one full inning of action.
Lappe drove in another run in the bottom of the second frame with a sacrifice fly to score Drew Hinrichs. UNI kept tacking on runs in the bottom of the second frame with a two-run double from Katelyn Callahan and a two-run home run from Ava Smithson. The Cats held an eight-run lead after two innings.
UIC got on the board in the top of the fourth with a home run before the Panthers answered in the bottom half of the fourth with a Sykora Smith home run. UNI continued to hold an eight-run advantage heading into the fifth inning.
The Flames scored three runs in the top of the fifth to avoid a run-rule and cut into the UNI lead. UNI answered by loading the bases with no outs, eyeing a run-rule victory. Two runs scored in the bottom of the fifth inning on a single from Peyton Johnson. The Cats couldn't convert with the game-winning run on third base with two outs, as UIC forced a sixth inning.
In the sixth frame, UIC scored five runs to cut the UNI lead to two runs at 11-9. After UIC got some life into the lineup in the top of the sixth, Finley Netten hit UNI's fourth home run of the afternoon to extend its lead to 12-9. The long ball was the final run of the game, as the Panthers put away the Flames, 1-2-3, in the top of the seventh to claim a 12-9 victory in game one of the doubleheader.
Seven Panthers finished with two hits, including Skylar Benesh, Kate Lappe, Kateyn Callahan, Ava Smithson, Sykora Smith, Drew Hinrichs, and Finley Netten. Lappe, Callahan, Smithson, Smith, and Peyton Johnson each finished with a pair of RBIs on their lines. In the circle, Ashlyn Enke picked up her fourth victory of the season in a four-inning start. Enke struck out a pair of batters. The freshman returned to the game in the seventh to knock down the final three batters in order.
GAME TWO | UNI 17, UIC 9 (F/6)
UIC was the first on the board in the top of the first inning of game two. A fielding error in the outfield allowed a pair of Flames to cross the plate. UNI answered in the bottom of the first inning with a home run to left-center off the bat of freshman Brynn Acton. Acton's long ball came with Skylar Benesh on the base path to tie the game at two runs.
Three consecutive bases-loaded walks gave the Cats a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the second inning before a sacrifice fly from Kate Lappe tacked on another. A three-run home run from Ava Smithson, her second of the day after one in game one, gave UNI a 9-2 lead after the second inning which saw seven Panther runs.
The Flames struck back, with five runs in the top of the third inning and a home run in the top of the fourth to cut the UNI lead to one run at 9-8. Ava Smithson's second home run of the game, and third of the doubleheader, drove in a pair of runs to extend the Panther lead.
UIC scored their last run of the night in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single. Leading 11-9 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, The Cats scored six runs, including two home runs, to run-rule the Flames 17-9 in six innings. A three run home run off the bat of Drew Hinrichs was followed by a two-run shot by Skylar Benesh, before Sykora Smith walked off the matchup with a bases-loaded single to center-field. Kate Lappe crossed the plate from third base to complete the run-rule victory.
Skylar Benesh was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs and three RBIs. Sykora Smith finished with three hits, while Ava Smithson and Peyton Johnson each tallied a pair of hits in game two. Ava Smithson drove in five of UNI's runs in game, while Benesh, Acton, and Hinrichs drove in three a piece. Anna Wischnowski picked up her ninth win of the season in a three-inning start. Wischnowski struck out a pair of batters, while Kelsey Endress sat down five on strikes in a three-inning relief effort.
UP NEXT
The Cats will wrap up the series with the Flames on Saturday, April 11. Originally scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch, the game was moved up to noon CT to avoid potential weather heading into the area. The status of its ESPN+ broadcast is TBD. Stay tuned to unipanthers.com and UNI softball's X account for more updates.
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.
