UNI softball opens conference play with a 3-0 sweep of Evansville.
By Josh Dinkelman/UNI Athletics
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — UNI softball opened conference play with a weekend series at Evansville. After a sweep of the Friday doubleheader, UNI rounded out the series with a single game on Sunday, March 16. The Panther offense was humming and hit four home runs en route to a series sweep after a 12-9 victory over Evansville on Sunday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers got on the board first with a bases-loaded walk which was drawn by Katelyn Callahan. Skylar Benesh crossed the plate to give UNI a 1-0 lead. The Panthers could not capitalize with the bases loaded and left the top of the first inning with just one run. The Purple Aces answered with three runs in the bottom half of the first inning to take their first lead of the series at 3-1.
Kylee Sanders got a big inning started for the Panthers with an RBI double in the top of the second inning to score Ava Smithson. A three-run home run off the bat of Drew Hinrichs, her fifth deep shot of the season, scored Benesh and Sanders to give the Panthers a 5-3 lead before a two-run home run from Katelyn Callahan put the Panthers ahead by four at 7-3 after a six-run top of the second inning. The shot from Callahan was her first collegiate home run.
An Evansville home run in the home half of the second inning cut the UNI lead to three at 7-4 before a fifth-inning home run from Ava Smithson pushed the Panther lead back out to four at 8-4. The Purple Aces notched another in the bottom of the fifth before Sykora Smith belted a grand slam, the Panthers’ second of the weekend, to score Callahan, Kate Lappe, and Makenna Kuper. Smith’s first home run of her career gave the Panthers a 12-5 lead after the UNI half of the sixth inning.
Evansville scored four more runs in the next two innings, but could not complete the comeback as the Panthers took home a 12-9 victory and completed the sweep of the series to open conference play.
Kylee Sanders was the lone Panther with a multi-hit game as the senior shortstop finished the matchup with two hits, one run, and one RBI in three at-bats. Sykora Smith led the game with four RBIs while Drew Hinrichs and Katelyn Callahan each recorded three RBIs. Anna Wischnowski recorded her seventh victory of the season and seventh complete game with seven innings in the circle. The redshirt junior finished with a season-high seven punchouts in the contest.
UP NEXT
The Panthers continue the road conference slate with a three-game series at UIC on March 21-23. First pitch on Friday, March 21 is slated for 5 p.m. CT. Games will be available to stream on ESPN+.