The University of Indianapolis’ softball team has been dominant in the 2026 season, posting a 39-3 overall record and a 13-1 conference record.
Junior utility player Cara Cooper leads the team in on-base percentage (.500) and has recorded 53 hits and 29 walks on the season. Cooper was a 2024 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) selection, according to UIndy Athletics.
Cooper highlighted the team’s 6-0 run at Space Coast Spring Games in Florida as one of the early defining moments of the season.
“Going into that trip, we knew that none of the games would be easy,” Cooper said. “Truthfully, it showed our true team, because those were important long days. We had a couple of games that we were down in, but we fought back and ended up winning. Those games were huge.”
Cooper also acknowledged the positive impact that their coaches have had on the team, pushing them to reach their full potential.
“The way they push us every day and especially in the offseason really set us up for success this season,” Cooper said. “They made the fall hard, and that has put us in the position to win every game because nothing has been given to us, and nothing has been easy. Each day they want us to be better, and I think we’ve continuously gotten better because our coaching staff has pushed us so much.”
In conference play, the Greyhounds are 13-1 with their only loss coming in the home opener against William Jewell. This loss served as a reminder that the team must stay at the top of its game, according to senior infielder Shelby Cook.
Cook is another key player with a batting average of .377 and a slugging percentage of .585. She also leads the team in putouts with a total of 276. Cook is a 2-time All-GLVC Third Team selection, 3-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete and 3-time Academic All-GLVC selection, according to UIndy Athletics.
“Every team is going to come at us with their best game,” Cook said. “We can’t take a game off or play off, because teams are always going to come at us.”
Last season, the Greyhounds’ postseason run ended in the Super Regional against Saginaw Valley (MI), where they fell in a decisive game three and narrowly missed a trip to the World Series. Both Cook and Cooper said that making it to the World Series would be a big success for this team.
“Seeing the personal goals that I’ve watched my teammates be able to achieve, that in itself is success,” Cook said. “But I think ultimately, and I know my teammates would agree, that getting back to the World Series this year would be the biggest success of all.”
With the regular season winding down and postseason play on the horizon, the Greyhounds remain focused on maintaining their high level of play. The Greyhounds are scheduled to take on the University of Missouri-St. Louis in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 18, at 1 p.m.
