Northern Iowa softball began the 2024 season on Friday afternoon. The Panthers will play six games at home before and embarking on a 20-game road stint that concludes on March 17th at Belmont.
When they return to Cedar Falls, Iowa for their first conference game against Indiana State on March 22, it will mark the first outdoor game of the college softball season. Opening Weekend is played entirely inside.
Northern Iowa can’t plan on the weather in late February or early March, so it begins its season inside the most unique venue in college softball and then hits the road until it warms up. The Panthers are hosting Western Illinois, Drake, Omaha, Northern Illinois and Butler for the Doc Halverson UNI-Dome Classic this weekend.
As its name might suggest, the early-season tournament is played at the UNI Dome. The UNI Dome is technically a “multi-purpose stadium” on campus, but its main purpose is for football.
It is an indoor football stadium and it makes for the most unique, odd-looking setup in softball.
Home plate sits along the sideline of the 30-yard-line. The pitching circle is right on top of the number marking the 40-yard-line. It is not dirt because, well, the game is played on turf.
Considering that football fields do not have outfield walls, fences are installed to mark the field.
Here is how the setup looks once first pitch rolls around:
If it doesn’t look weird enough without players on the field, here is how it looks when the ladies get active on the turf football diamond:
Sound
for the crack of the bat on Kate Lappe's RBI double!
Panthers lead 1-0 entering the top of the second. #EverLoyal #1UNI pic.twitter.com/bv1edwNXWm
— UNI Softball (@UNISoftball) February 9, 2024
It’s hard to tell exactly where the bases are and where the infield becomes the outfield, but the sideline is used as the third base line and 30-yard-line is used as the first base line. Athletes are briefed on the unusual set up before the tournament.
The people who say that you can’t play softball in Cedar Falls, Iowa in February are incorrect!
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College Softball Game Played Inside Domed Football Stadium Is Strangest-Looking Field In Sports
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