UI Athletics news release
The Hawkeyes got to work early, scoring three runs on three hits from Kiara Sipe, Leah McAnally and Mariah Myers. McAnally’s double to left-center marked her 100th career RBI.
Iowa kept it rolling in the second inning. Phoenyx Silva led off with a single and, with one on, McKenzie Leitgen sent her seventh home run of the season over the left-center wall. Four batters later, McAnally capped the frame with her second RBI hit of the game.
The Hawkeyes unleashed an offensive onslaught in the third. Leitgen recorded a one-out RBI double and scored on a Devin Simon single. Iowa then loaded the bases, setting the stage for McAnally to drive in two with her third hit of the game. Myers and Kiyah Chavez followed with RBI hits in back-to-back at-bats. Silva doubled down the left-field line to score Myers and Chavez, giving Iowa a 14-0 lead.
The Panthers got on the board in the bottom of the third with a solo home run.
Iowa extended its lead to 17 in the top of the fourth. Nailyn Marshall became the ninth different Hawkeye to record an RBI with a single, and two batters later, Myers doubled her RBI total with a two-run double.
Despite the deficit, UNI clawed back to make it a one-run game with a 16-run bottom of the fifth inning. The frame featured four home runs, including a grand slam.
The Hawkeyes responded with their fourth three-run inning of the game in the fifth. The runs came on a solo home run by Leitgen and a two-run shot from Tory Bennett.
Leitgen drove in her fifth RBI of the game with a single in the sixth. UNI added one run in the bottom half of the inning to bring the final score to 21-17.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH STACY MAY-JOHNSON
“We don’t normally give up 15 runs in an inning, but I was proud of our team’s resiliency and the way we responded. We stayed composed, played the game we came here to play and stayed on them offensively. I thought Serayah did a great job closing it out, and our lineup is really clicking right now. We feel good about where we’re at heading into a tough series at Nebraska.”
NOTABLES
- The 38 combined runs are the most ever scored in an Iowa softball game.
- Iowa’s 21 runs tied the second-most scored in program history (vs. Illinois, March 13, 2026).
- The Hawkeyes’ 23 hits are the most in a game since February 18, 2012, when Iowa recorded 29 hits against Iowa State.
- Five Hawkeyes recorded multi-RBI performances: Leitgen (5), McAnally (4), Myers (4), Silva (2) and Bennett (2).
- Leitgen’s five RBIs are the most by a Hawkeye since Brianna Johnson drove in six against Illinois earlier this season.
- McAnally recorded the 100th RBI of her career in the contest.
The Hawkeyes travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a weekend series against No. 4 Nebraska from April 24–26. First pitch is set for Friday at 5:30 p.m., followed by Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at noon. Fans can follow along on B1G+ (subscription required).