The UNI softball team closes out the regular season with a three game Missouriu Valley Conference series against Valparaiso beginning Friday afternoon. At 16-5 the Panthers are second in the Valley race and will need help to pass conference leader Southern Illinois.

That’s UNI coach Ryan Jacobs. A factor in the league race may be the games that were not played. The Panthers were scheduled to host Indiana State back in March, but the entire series was cancelled due to weather.