The UNI women’s softball team possesses an overall record of 16-10. They began their season 4-1 in Cedar Falls after hosting the UNI-Dome Classic. They followed their initial performance with a 5-1 finish in Florida, during the Diamond Nine Citrus Blossom Invitational.

In their third tournament of the season, UNI traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama and were unable to earn a single win at the Easton Bama Bash. They lost to Florida State, Georgia State twice and Alabama before game five (Florida State) was canceled due to weather.

The Panthers turned it around and really hit their stride with a 4-1 finish in Nashville, Tennessee, followed by a 2-2 finish in Lawrence, Kansas during the Jayhawk Invitational.

Their first non-tournament game was canceled due to the weather. But on Sunday, March 18, the Panthers split their double header against Bradley in Peoria, Illinois. They won their first game 9-6 and lost their second 7-4.

In game one, UNI was the first team on the board. Brittney Roby made it home after an error by Bradley’s center fielder. Kennedy Bailey was then batted in by Brittney Krodinger, who hit a double and wrapped up the first inning, 2-0.

The Panthers scored three points in the second inning. Sammey Bunch hit a triple out towards right field, bringing Tianna Drahn and Claire Dudek to home base. Brittney Krodinger flew out to right field and brought Bunch home to put the Panthers up 5-0 before the third inning.

Both teams went scoreless for three innings, before Bailey reached on a fielder’s choice in the sixth and brought Bunch in for another run and a 6-0 lead.

Bradley finally found themselves on the board in the seventh inning, scoring all six of their points in a last minute attempt to come back against UNI. However, UNI tacked on three more runs to safeguard a 9-6 victory.

In game two, UNI still possessed an early lead, ahead 4-1 by the end of the third. Bradley turned on the jets in the fourth inning and denied the Panthers any more runs throughout the ballgame. Their response was also five points in the fourth inning and an additional run in the sixth.

Bradley was victorious 7-4, but the Panthers have a winning 16-10 record compared to the Braves’ 11-14.

UNI will travel to Evansville, Indiana for a double-header against the Aces, followed by a single game in Madison against Wisconsin wrapping up a long stretch of away games for the Panthers.

Following their game against the Badgers, UNI will host a three-game series against Missouri State before hitting the road yet again, to Iowa City, where they will take on the Hawkeyes.