DES MOINES — The UNI softball team concluded play in the 2025 MVC Softball Tournament with a semifinal matchup against the no. 2-seed Belmont Bruins. Belmont jumped out to a lead early and the Panthers weren’t able to claw back as the Bruins advanced to the Championship matchup with a 7-5 victory.
Addison McElrath got things rolling for the Panthers in the top of the first inning with a two-out home run to left field to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. UNI sat down the Bruins in order in the bottom of the first inning. The Bruins started to gain momentum through the next two innings with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second and three in the bottom of the third to take a 5-1 lead.
McElrath launched her second home run of the contest just inside the right foul pole with Kylee Sanders on base to cut the Belmont lead to two. The Bruins added a run in both the fourth and fifth innings to extend their lead back to four runs at 7-3 after five full innings.
A home run from Drew Hinrichs in the top of the sixth inning, her seventh of the season, put the Panthers back within two after five and a half innings. The Panthers held the Bruins scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to bring a run across the plate in the top of the seventh inning as Belmont took home a 7-5 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
Addison McElrath finished with three hits in four at-bats including two home runs. Drew Hinrichs recorded a pair of hits including a home run and two RBIs.