Panthers split doubleheader in Evansville

Friday, April 3

Evansville, Ind.

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

18-14, 6-3

Evansville

15-18, 8-7

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

Photo by: Bob Pristash

Panthers split doubleheader in Evansville

4/3/2026 5:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

EVANSVILLE, Indiana — The UNI Panther softball team traveled to Evansville for a series-opening doubleheader on Friday. The Cats took home a game-one win, with a 5-2 final, before falling just short of a comeback effort in a 10-7 loss in game two.

GAME ONE | UNI 5, Evansville 2

UNI scored first, with a three-run home run in the top of the third inning. With Kate Lappe and Katelyn Callahan on the base path, thanks to a walk and a single, Ava Smithson swung with a 1-2 count and sent a ball deep to right field. Her fourth home run of the season drove in Lappe and Callahan to put UNI in front, 3-0, after the top of the third frame.

A double to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning drove in Evansville's first run of the game, before a single from Kate Lappe and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ava Smithson drove in a run each. UNI led the Purple Aces, 5-1, after the top of the sixth inning.

The Aces eyed a comeback, as their first batter of the bottom of the seventh inning sent a ball over the fence in right-center field. A fly out and two ground outs in the next three batters shut the door on the comeback attempt, as the Panthers took home a 5-2 victory in the first game of Friday's doubleheader.

Kate Lappe was UNI's lone multi-hit performer with two hits, a run, and an RBI in three at-bats and a walk. Ava Smithson drove in four runs in the contest with a three-run home run and a one-run sacrifice fly. In the circle, Anna Wischnowski picked up her eighth win of the season in her eighth complete game of the year. Wischnowski struck out two batters in her seven innings.

GAME TWO | Evansville 10, UNI 7

Skylar Benesh opened the game with a home run, her fourth leadoff home run of the season, with a long ball over the right-center fence.

The Purple Aces responded with eight runs in the bottom of the first inning, including a bases-loaded hit by pitch, three bases-loaded walks, and a grand slam to take an 8-1 lead after the first inning of action.

A three-run home run from Drew Hinrichs, her first long-ball of the season, cut into the Panther deficit in the top of the third inning. UNI trailed 8-4 after the top of the third frame before two Evansville runs in the bottom of the fourth extended the Aces' lead back to six.

Skylar Benesh belted her second home run of the game in the top of the fifth inning to cut the lead back to three runs at 10-7, as the sophomore drove in three with Adalyn Reynolds and Peyton Johnson on the base path.

The Panthers looked to continue the comeback, but left five runners on base in the last three innings, and came up just short. The Purple Aces escaped with a 10-7 victory in game two.

Skylar Benesh finished with three hits, four RBIs, and two runs in five at-bats. Her leadoff home run was her fourth leadoff long ball of the season, while her multi-home run performance was her third of the year. Katelyn Callahan and Drew Hinrichs each finished with a pair of hits, rounding out UNI's multi-hit performers. Hinrichs drove in UNI's other three runs. In the circle, Morgan Vertz struck out three batters in a 4.1-inning relief effort.

UP NEXT

The Cats look to close out the series with a victory in Saturday's game three against the Evansville Purple Aces. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. CT. The game will not be available to stream on ESPN+. Stay tuned to UNI softball on X for live coverage of the contest!

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.