Panther softball sweeps Bradley in Illinois

Tuesday, April 28

Peoria, Ill.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

24-22, 12-10

Bradley

15-34, 7-17

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Northern Iowa	0	1	2	5	0	0	2	10	7	2
Bradley	1	2	0	0	3	3	0	9	10	1

Photo by: © Andy Saigh

Panther softball sweeps Bradley in Illinois

4/28/2026 7:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

PEORIA, Illinois — The UNI softball team broke four single-season records in its trip to Peoria, Illinois for a doubleheader against the Bradley Braves. A back-and-forth matchup in game one saw Katelyn Callahan play the hero for UNI, before the Panthers picked up their second shutout of the season in game two.

GAME ONE | UNI 10, Bradley 9

The Braves were the first to strike in game one, with a home run in the bottom of the first inning. The Cats tied the game in the top of the second frame on a passed ball to cross Sykora Smith. Smith's run gave UNI the single-season Missouri Valley Conference runs record.

A two-run home run from Bradley in the bottom of the second inning answered the Panther run and gave the Braves a 3-1 lead. Kate Lappe hit her first of two home runs of the day in the top of the third inning with Skylar Benesh on the base path to knot the game at three runs.

Five runs crossed the plate in the top of the fourth inning to give the Panthers an 8-3 lead. An error in center field saw Sykora Smith cross the plate before a two-run single from Skylar Benesh plated Finley Netten and Drew Hinrichs. Kate Lappe sent her second ball over the fence with Benesh on the bases for the fourth and fifth runs of the inning. Benesh's single broke the UNI and MVC single-season RBI record.

Bradley scored three in the bottom of the fifth and three in the bottom of the sixth to reclaim the lead at 9-8. With UNI's back against the wall, Katelyn Callahan stepped up to the plate and sent a ball deep to give the Panthers a 10-9 advantage with Lappe on base. The home run set a conference-only record for single-season home runs for the Panthers.

The game-winning run came up to the plate with one on and one out after Morgan Vertz struck out the second batter of the inning, walking the first. The Cats turned a double play to end the inning and crush the Braves' comeback hopes with a 10-9 victory.

Kate Lappe led UNi with three hits in four at-bats, including a pair of home runs. She drove in a game-high four runs. Lappe was UNI's lone multi-hit performer, while both Skylar Benesh and Katelyn Callahan finished with a pair of RBIs in one hit. In the circle, Morgan Vertz picked up her fourth victory of the season in a three-inning relief effort. She struck out a pair of batters in the three innings.

GAME TWO | UNI 9, Bradley 0

Game two was all UNI, as the Panthers scored six runs in the top of the fifth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh to take home the doubleheader sweep.

Drew Hinrichs doubled down the left field line to drive in UNI's run of the contest before she crossed later in the inning off a single from Brynn Acton. Kate Lappe drove in another Panther run on the day with an RBI single before a bases-loaded walk drawn by Ava Smithson gave the Panthers a 4-0 lead. Two more runs crossed in the top of the fifth inning, including Kate Lappe on a Sykora Smith sacrifice fly and Katelyn Callahan on a double off the bat of Peyton Johnson.

The sixth inning saw Skylar Benesh score on another hit from Kate Lappe to take a 7-0 lead before a two-run single from Benesh in the top of the seventh gave the Cats a 9-0 victory. Benesh's run in the sixth inning broke the MVC single-season run record from an individual with her 62nd run of the season.

Anna Wischnowski had a perfect game through four innings of play in a six-inning start. The graduate pitcher struck out three batters. Skylar Benesh, Kate Lappe, Katelyn Callahan, and Drew Hinrichs each recorded a pair of hits in the second game of the matchup. Benesh and Lappe drove in a pair of runs each, leading the Panthers.

UP NEXT

The Panthers wrap up the regular season on May 1 and 2 at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex with a senior-weekend matchup with the Indiana State Sycamores. All three games of the series are scheduled to be broadcast 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.