Panther softball tops Indiana State in regular season finale, 5-2

Saturday, May 2

Cedar Falls, Iowa

1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

28-22, 16-10

Indiana State

22-28, 10-15

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

Photo by: Andy Saigh

Panther softball tops Indiana State in regular season finale, 5-2

5/2/2026 3:27:00 PM | Softball

Box Score FINAL RESULTS

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI softball team launched a pair of two-run home runs in the third and fourth inning on Saturday to score a 5-2 win over the Indiana State Sycamores at Robinson-Dresser Sports Complex in the Panthers' 2026 regular season finale.

Ending the season on a five-game winning streak, Northern Iowa finishes the regular season with a 27-22 record and 15-10 mark in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play.

Following the game, the Panthers recognized their six graduating seniors in Anna Wischnowski, Eve Morris, Kate Lappe, Adalyn Reynolds, Kelsey Endress and Ava Smithson.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After drawing a lead off baserunner to begin the first three innings, Indiana State cracked the scoreboard first in the third frame with a lead off single, stolen base and RBI single to center field for a 1-0 lead. The Sycamores' lead wouldn't last long as UNI took control in the bottom of the third with Drew Hinrichs reaching bases on a hit by pitch and scoring on a two-run home run to right field by Finley Netten for a 2-1 advantage. The home run was Netten's fourth of her freshman campaign.

Northern Iowa added on to its lead after retiring the Sycamores in order in the fourth inning with Katelyn Callahan leading off with a single to left-center field and scoring on a two-run home run off the bat of Sykora Smith for a 4-1 lead. The Panthers tacked on another run for a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning with Skylar Benesh reaching third on an error and an RBI groundout from Lappe.

Callahan finished the afternoon with two hits for UNI and one walk, while Benesh and Peyton Johnson also drew walks. In the pitching circle, Wischnowski struck out five batters with no walks in five and two-third innings of work for her 12th win of the year, with Morgan Vertz notching her first save of the season.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will head to Carbondale, Illinois for the 2026 MVC Tournament as the four-seed. UNI will take on fifth-seeded Illinois State in the first round at 12 p.m. CT at Charlotte West Stadium in the tournament's opening game of the double-elimination bracket. Live coverage of the tournament 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.