UNI softball secures MVC Tournament berth with doubleheader sweep of Sycamores

Friday, May 1

Cedar Falls, Iowa

2:30 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

26-22, 14-10

Indiana State

22-26, 10-13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Indiana St.	1	2	0	0	1	0	0	4	7	0
Northern Iowa	6	3	0	0	0	0	X	9	6	0

UNI softball vs. Iowa | April 22, 2026 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)

Photo by: UNI Athletics

UNI softball secures MVC Tournament berth with doubleheader sweep of Sycamores

5/1/2026 8:28:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 GAME ONE RESULTS GAME TWO RESULTS

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI softball team opened up its final three-game series of the regular season at the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex on Friday afternoon, securing a doubleheader sweep of the Indiana State Sycamores by scores of 9-4 and 3-1.

Northern Iowa, which is now riding a season-long four-game winning streak, secures its spot in next week's Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament in Carbondale, Illinois as either the three or four-seed. UNI has now qualified for the MVC Tournament in each of its last 17 seasons dating back to 2009 (excluding the cancelled 2020 tournament).

Friday's doubleheader also was another record setting day for the purple and gold as Kate Lappe passed Madison Park's 2024 single-season school record with four walks on the day, giving her 50 for the season. Lappe's solo home run in game two also put her alongside Sammey Bunch (2021) as the only two players in team history to hit 20 or more home runs in a single season.

GAME ONE | UNI 9, Indiana State 4
Indiana State scored the first run of the game off Panther starting pitcher Maddy McDermott before the UNI offense went to work in the first inning. Skylar Benesh opened the game with a walk and stolen base with Lappe walking to set up a three-run home run by Katelyn Callahan to left-center for a 3-1 lead. Northern Iowa added on with an Ava Smithson walk, Sykora Smith single and Peyton Johnson walk, allowing Finley Netten and Drew Hinrichs to draw a bases loaded walk for a pair of runs, with Brynn Acton tacking on an RBI single with two outs for a 6-1 advantage.

The Sycamores scored twice in the top of the second inning, but the Panthers swiftly responded with lead off walks by Lappe and Callahan before Smith launched UNI's second home run of the day to right-center to extend the lead to 9-3.

After a scoreless third inning and UNI working out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the fourth, Indiana State would score once in the fifth and once in the sixth innings. The Panthers would make a great defensive play in the top of the sixth with a double play on a flyout to right field and picking off the Sycamores' runner at first base.

Smith finished Friday's opener with a team-high three RBI's and three hits, while Lappe, Callahan and Johnson all drew two walks each. In the pitching circle, Carly Goodwin earned her third win of the season as Kelsey Endress picked up the save, her second of the year.

GAME TWO | UNI 3, Indiana State 1
UNI retired Indiana State in order to open game two of the doubleheader, but would surrender the game's first run on an infield throwing error in the second. Despite two great deep drives to the warning track, the Panthers were unable to score in the first two frames in response.

After a scoreless third inning and turning an impressive 1-4-3 double play in the top of the fourth, Northern Iowa cracked the scoreboard for the first time as Smithson reached on a lead off single and walk by Smith, setting up an RBI single for Smith on the infield for the 1-1 tie.

The Panthers added on with a one out bunt single to bring home Smith and give UNI its first lead of the day. In the fifth inning, Lappe tacked on a third run with a solo home run to right field for her 20th long ball of the season. UNI would close out the game in the top of the seventh, striking out Indiana State's lead off batter before swinging their second 1-4-3 double play of the day to secure the two-run victory.

Johnson went two-for-two at the plate for the Panthers in game two with an RBI, as Acton, Lappe, Smithson, Smith and Netten all notched one hit each with a pair of walks drawn by Lappe. Ashlyn Enke went the distance for UNI in the pitching circle for her sixth win of the season, allowing one run on just two hits.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will conclude the 2026 regular season on Saturday when they host the Sycamores in the third and final game of the series on Senior Day. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT at the Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex with a senior-weekend matchup with the Indiana State Sycamores. Live coverage can be found 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.