The University of Indianapolis softball team extended its winning-streak to 16 games over the past weekend, claiming a doubleheader on April 12 against Maryville University and another against the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Greyhounds won both games against Maryville with a 5-4 final, while also claiming both games against Missouri-St. Louis in similar fashion, 2-0.
The Greyhounds had a successful weekend the week before, winning two doubleheaders against Illinois Springfield on April 5 and McKendree University on April 6.
The Greyhounds won the first game against Illinois Springfield with a score of 2-0, and the second 5-3. The Greyhound sweep against the Prairie Stars extended the team’s winning streak to 10 games.
In the first game, sophomore pitcher Morgan Foley struck out 15 players. Foley’s 15 strikeouts helped her achieve a 500-strikeout milestone in the second inning. The Greyhounds started the second inning with back-to-back singles from junior utility Taylor Russell and senior utility Alexa Alfaro.
Foley attributed her success to her coaches and her teammates, and said she was happy to have reached the milestone.
“I feel really good about it. I also feel like not a lot of credit I should take either, because I always hear that behind every good pitcher there is a great catcher,” Foley said. “My catcher really helps me with getting strike calls and keeping calm on the mound when calls don’t go my way. But I do feel very fortunate to have reached the 500th strikeout record.”
In their second victory against the Prairie Stars, the Greyhounds scored their first run in the third inning and two more in the fourth inning. The Prairie Stars responded to the Greyhounds in the bottom of the fifth inning with three runs. Foley made sure that the Stars were scoreless for the remainder of the game, striking out nine of the 10 batters to whom she pitched. The Greyhound offense held strong as runners were put on base in the fifth and seventh innings. Foley sealed the win for the Greyhounds in the ninth inning by striking out three hitters.
Head Softball Coach Melissa Frost said that this weekend was an improvement for the Hounds, and that they played as a team.
“The biggest thing I think we have been really successful at is doing the little things right, and that is just the small ball part of it,” Frost said. “One of our goals is to clearly hit the ball hard and put it in play hard, and we did that well this week. We played unselfish softball this week.”
The Greyhounds swept the McKendree Bearcats in a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader on April 6, winning 7-0 and 10-2, which extended their winning streak to 12 games.
Frost said that the goal for the team is to continue to win, and the Greyhounds have been holding steady.
“Our goal is to keep winning,” Frost said. “We’d like to host the regional tournament again here this year, and we’re going to have to take care of business.”
In the first game, the Greyhounds scored in the first three innings, with a two-run homer by Russell. Sophomore catcher/infielder Jenny Thompson contributed three hits, two RBIs and a run in four plate appearances. Junior outfielder Casey Williamson reached base three times and stole two bases. Foley sealed the win after tossing just over five innings with the Bearcats remaining scoreless. Foley had 10 strikeouts and walked two in the game.
Foley agreed with Frost that playing unselfish softball is key to the goal of continuing to win games.
“Continuing to play team before self, team softball, is something we can improve on,” Foley said.
In the second game, the Greyhounds had three home runs and two doubles. Contributing to the success of the day, freshman infielder Taylor Weck hit a home run in the third inning, which put the Hounds up 7-0.
The Greyhounds will take on the Truman State Bulldogs in a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader at noon on April 18.
