University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Drake
Panther softball takes on in-state rival Drake
4/12/2026 1:29:00 PM | Softball
UNI softball (21-15 / 9-4 MVC) vs. Drake (9-29 / 3-14 MVC)
- Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex | Cedar Falls, Iowa
- April 13 | 2:00 & 4:30 p.m. CT
- ESPN+
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The Panthers host the Drake Bulldogs for an in-state rivalry matchup on Monday, April 13. The doubleheader will be the 144th and 145th meetings between the two programs, with UNI leading the all-time series with a record of 85-58. UNI has won 14 of the last 15 matchups, including a pair in the MVC Tournament. Last season, the Cats won two of three contests, with 7-1 and 8-7 victories in games one and two. Drake was victorious in game three by a 12-11 final. UNI hit five home runs in the series against the Bulldogs last season, including two in each of the first two contests.
UNI is coming off a series sweep of the UIC Flames last weekend. The Panthers won games one and two of the series in a Friday doubleheader by scores of 12-9 and 17-9 in six innings. Game three saw UIC lead for five and a half innings, until the Panthers put up five runs in the bottom of the sixth frame to claim a 14-10 victory. The sixth inning saw a bases-loaded walk drawn by Skylar Benesh and a grand slam off the bat of Brynn Acton to take the lead and seal a series sweep.
Five Panthers batted .500 or better (with more than three at-bats), led by Ava Smithson's .636 average. Smithson recorded seven hits and four runs with three home runs and a pair of doubles in 11 at-bats. She slugged 1.636 with 10 RBIs and 18 total bases. Skylar Benesh finished with a .615 batting average with eight hits and six runs in 13 at-bats, while Peyton Johnson batted .571, and both Kate Lappe and Drew Hinrichs averaged .500. Brynn Acton led UNI with four home runs in four hits, including three in three hits in game three against UIC.
In the circle, Anna Wischnowski picked up a pair of victories in 9.2 innings. The graduate pitcher struck out five batters in two appearances and a start. Kelsey Endress also struck out five batters in a three-inning save in game two.
As of April 12, UNI leads the MVC in multiple statistical categories, including batting average (.335), hits (335), home runs (69), home runs per game (1.92), on-base percentage (.451), RBIs per game (7.67), total RBIs (276), scoring (8.22), slugging percentage (.618), total runs (296), total sacrifice flies (13), and walks (206). The Cats have the fifth-most walks in the nation, while ranking sixth in home runs per game, eighth in scoring, ninth in RBIs per game, 10th in home runs, and 13th in slugging percentage.
Individually, Kate Lappe has drawn the nation's third-most walks per game this season with 1.06, which leads the Valley. The senior has the ninth-best on-base percentage (.590) and 12th-best slugging percentage (1.000) in Division I. Lappe also leads the MVC with 0.42 home runs per game and is second with 15 total home runs, 1.14 runs per game, and 104 total bases.
Skylar Benesh leads the Valley with a .472 batting average, 60 hits, 50 runs, 1.39 runs per game, and 108 total bases. Benesh is second in the Valley with a .549 on-base percentage and a .850 slugging percentage.
With two victories against the Redbirds, Coach Jacobs moved up to No. 4 on the Valley's MVC wins list, passing Rich Calvert (DU, 2003-23) in the No. 4 spot with 286 league wins. Jacobs sits with 285 MVC victories.
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 UIC, the Panthers have won 130 conference matchups in that span to just 38 MVC losses.
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.
