University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Iowa
Panthers face off with Hawkeyes in a midweek clash
4/21/2026 9:05:00 PM | Softball
UNI softball (22-19 / 10-8 MVC) vs. Iowa (24-22 / 6-12 B1G)
- Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex | Cedar Falls, Iowa
- April 22 | 6:30 p.m. CT
- ESPN+
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The Panthers return home to face the Iowa Hawkeyes in a matchup under the Robinson-Dresser lights on Wednesday. The Panthers are 27-32 all-time against the Hawkeyes, but have won the last two matchups, both at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex.
UNI Athletics and Panther softball will recognize Patty Stockman, regarded by some as the best pitcher in the state of Iowa women's softball history, on Wednesday, April 22, during the Panthers' midweek matchup against the University of Iowa. Stockman, who played for the Panthers from 1973 to 1977, will be in attendance for the pregame ceremony, as she will be recognized for her accomplishments with a banner bearing her name and number 20 jersey, along with a banner plaque.Â
UNI is coming off its first series sweep loss since 2019 after losing three matchups to the Salukis. UNI's last series sweep loss came to the Salukis. The Panthers were defeated by scores of 2-1, 3-1, and 5-3.
Last week, Katelyn Callahan recorded eight hits and four runs in 15 at-bats for a .533 batting average. Callahan hit three home runs, driving in seven runs with 17 total bases for a 1.133 slugging percentage. The sophomore right fielder led the Valley last week in hits, home runs, and total bases. She hit the 11th-most home runs in Division I between Monday and Sunday and tallied the 20th-most bases in the country.
As of April 21, UNI leads the MVC in multiple statistical categories, including batting average (.331), hits (377), home runs (80), home runs per game (1.95), on-base percentage (.449), RBIs per game (7.41), total RBIs (304), scoring (7.90), slugging percentage (.613), total runs (324), total sacrifice flies (13), and walks (236). The Cats have the third-most walks in the nation, while ranking sixth in home runs per game, ninth in total home runs and RBIs per game, 10th in scoring, 11th in slugging percentage, and 12th in on-base percentage.Â
Individually, Kate Lappe has drawn the nation's fourth-most walks per game this season with 1.07, which leads the Valley. The senior has the 13th-best on-base percentage (.573) and 21st-best slugging percentage (.941) in Division I. Lappe also leads the MVC with 16 home runs, and is second with 0.39 home runs per game, 1.12 runs per game, and 111 total bases.
Skylar Benesh leads the Valley with 66 hits, 55 runs, 1.34 runs per game, and 121 total bases. The sophomore is 13th in the nation in hits and 15th in runs per game. Benesh is second in the Valley with a .462 batting average, .546 on-base percentage and a .846 slugging percentage.
UNI set the single-season record for home runs with a pair against the Salukis. UNI's 80 home runs are three short of tying the Missouri Valley Conference single-season home runs record set in 2007 by Illinois State with 83 home runs. The Panthers are also 24 runs away from the single-season record, set in 2023. Eight walks and 78 hits would tie the Panther softball program's single-season records, set in 2025 and 1997, respectively.
Individually, Skylar Benesh is three runs away from tying the UNI single-season record set by Sammey Bunch in 2021 at 58. The sophomore is 17 hits away from the single-season hits record, which is currently held by Lindsay Wood, who recorded 83 hits in 2002.
With two victories against the Redbirds earlier this season, 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 284 league wins. Jacobs sits with 290 MVC victories after a series against Drake.Â
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.Â
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 the Panthers broke three team records, including home runs (79), walks (244), and stolen bases (94). UNI was ninth in the nation last season with 1.58 home runs per game, 10th with 244 total walks, and 22nd with 94 total stolen bases.
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 Valley series against SIU, the Panthers have won 131 conference matchups in that span to just 42 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.
