Panther softball splits doubleheader with Drake

Monday, April 13

Cedar Falls, Iowa

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

21-16, 9-5

Drake

10-29, 4-14

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Drake	1	1	0	0	3	5	4	14	14	4
Northern Iowa	1	0	1	1	0	2	0	5	8	1

Photo by: © Andy Saigh

Panther softball splits doubleheader with Drake

4/13/2026 8:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI softball team took on the Drake Bulldogs in a midweek contest at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex on Monday. The Drake bats got hot in game one, before UNI got its revenge with a five-inning victory in game two.

GAME ONE | Drake 14, UNI 5

The Bulldogs got the bats going early with home runs in both the first and second innings. UNI scored in the bottom of the first on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Katelyn Callahan to even the score at one run apiece. After the Drake home run in the top of the second frame, the Panthers took a lead with runs in the home-half of the third and fourth innings, including an RBI single from Sykora Smith in the third, and a solo home run off the bat of Skylar Benesh in the fourth.

Three home runs and a two-run single from the Bulldogs in the fifth and sixth innings saw the Bulldogs take a 10-3 lead, before a two-run home run from Skylar Benesh, her second long ball of the day, cut the deficit to five at 10-5.

Drake hit a pair of home runs in the top of the seventh inning to extend their lead, and ultimately their victory, to 14-5.

Skylar Benesh recorded a pair of hits, both for home runs, to go along with multi-hit performances from Brynn Acton and Ava Smithson. Benesh drove in three runs with her two long balls.

GAME TWO | UNI 18, Drake 1 (F/5)

UNI scored early and often in game two, looking for revenge from game one's loss. An RBI double in the bottom of the first inning off the bat of Kate Lappe got things rolling, before a pair of RBI singles from Ava Smithson and Peyton Johnson gave the Cats a 3-0 lead. Drew Hinrichs drove in the final runs of the bottom of the first inning with an RBI double. The Panthers held an early 5-0 lead after the first inning.

Kate Lappe tacked on two more in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run home run, before Drake scored their first and only run of the game, on a single into the outfield.

One of the most dominant innings of the season, UNI hit five home runs and scored nine runs in the bottom of the third innings, with four two-run shots, all with two outs. Peyton Johnson was the first Panther to cross the plate in the third inning, with a solo home run. Brynn Acton, Katelyn Callahan, Sykora Smith, and Drew Hinrichs each hit two-out, two run home runs, as UNI took a 16-1 lead after the third inning.

Six total batters for Drake saw action in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, as the Panther defense sat down the Bulldogs in order over the final two innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Callahan hit her second two-run home run of the game for UNI's last runs of the game. The Cats got revenge for a game one loss with an 18-1 victory in five innings in game two.

Kate Lappe and Katelyn Callahan were both a perfect 3-for-3 in game two, as Callahan had two home runs and Lappe had a home run and a double. Both Callahan and Drew Hinrichs drive in four runs. In the circle, Ashlyn Enke picked up her fifth win of the season, and her first complete game with a five-inning start. The freshman struck out four batters in the contest.

UP NEXT

The Panthers head to the site of the MVC Tournament on April 17 and 18, as UNI takes on Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Illinois. First pitch of game one of the Friday doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT. All three matchups will be available to stream 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.