The Online Reflector

Starting their season Feb. 19, the ‘Hounds struggled to put wins on their record with seven losses and three wins before entering play during spring break.

Four of those seven losses came against ranked teams. No. 2 North Georgia  and No. 20 Wayne State each defeated Indianapolis once and No. 1 Alabama-Huntsville won two games against UIndy.

How long ago that seems.

It was the doubleheader wins on March 6 that started a 13-game win streak that put the softball team in the record books for the most consecutive wins.

The Greyhounds record now stands at 19-10, 11-3 GLVC with 16 games left in the season.

Head coach Melissa Frost-Fisher said the team has to continually get tougher each game.

“We would like to get back to the Regional tournament and also back to the Super Regionals and the World Series. In order for us to do that, we have to step up our game each and every time we take the field,” Frost-Fisher said. “The competition just continues to get tougher and tougher from here on out. The big thing that we’ve talked about all year is playing at our level and making sure that we do the things we need to do in order to win.”

Against the University of Missouri-St. Louis on March 27, the ‘Hounds split the doubleheader, dropping the opener and salvaging a split with a 9-3 victory in the nightcap.

In the first game, Indianapolis took a 1-0 into the fourth. The Tritons tied the game in the fourth before a triple concluded the scoring for UMSL in the fifth.

In game two, the ‘Hounds compiled 11 hits on their way to victory. Senior shortstop Carmen Martinez led the way with three RBIs on three hits.

Sophomore catcher/outfielder Ashley Boxley drove in two runs and scored twice. Freshman designated hitter/right fielder Hannah Atkinson also contributed two RBIs via a throwing error on a fielder’s choice.

The day prior in Evansville, UIndy split with the University of Southern Indiana.

In the first game, a five-run seventh inning catapulted Indianapolis to a victory.

UIndy took the lead for good after freshman/outfielder Jennifer DeMotte delivered a two-run single to give the ‘Hounds a 5-4 lead.

USI took game two 2-1, scoring a walk-off run in extra innings from a double play ball.

On March 20, the Greyhounds faced off against Missouri University of Science and Technology in a double header. Missouri S & T would end UIndy’s 13-game win streak when the team defeated the ‘Hounds 2-1 in the first game.

UIndy took the scoring initiative early in the second game with a 1-0 lead against the Miners in the third inning. But it was in the top of the fourth that Missouri S & T answered back with two runs. The Greyhounds kept the Miners off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game and rallied to win 3-2.

“We’ve just really come around as a team and that makes me confident on the mound that my defense is behind me,” said senior pitcher/first baseman Megan Russell. “Playing together, more consistently, like we have been, we’ve had an opportunity to put our trust in each other.”

Hosting Maryville University  March 19, the Greyhounds defeated the Saints in both games. The ‘Hounds shut out the Saints in the first game 2-0. Junior infielder Jamie Keltz and Boxely scored runs for the winning effort. In game two, the ‘Hounds held Maryville to one run while scoring seven of their own.  UIndy held the Saints to only three hits in the second game.

“Our pitchers have done a phenomenal job in this last span of games,” Frost-Fisher said. “[The pitchers] have really done a great job of keeping us in the ball game and keeping the runs that have been allowed to low scoring.”

Prior to the games against Maryville and Missouri S & T, the softball team had only managed to practice outside once, on March 18, Frost-Fisher said. It’s either been raining or too cold for Indianapolis to practice outside on the field.

Also, because of the weather, there have been many game cancellations this season. Games scheduled against Saginaw Valley State University (March 11), Stonehill College and Ashland University on March 12 were among the games cancelled.

On March 15, Indianapolis  traveled to Kansas City, Mo., to take on Rockhurst University, the ‘Hounds added two more wins to their record. The team also increased their win streak to 11. In game one, UIndy only allowed three runs, en route to posting a 10-3 victory.

The Greyhounds led 3-1 in the third inning of the second game, but Rockhurst would nudge its way closer, tying the score when they batted in their second run in the bottom of the fourth. With only a one run margin, Frost-Fisher said it was great to see the team step up.

“You could [see] the looks on their faces and you had no doubt that [Rockhurst] was not going to score,” Frost-Fisher said.

UIndy held Rockhurst to only two runs, and won the game 3-2.

Frost-Fisher said that things are starting to come together for the team.

“Our girls have came and done their job,” Frost-Fisher said. “They’ve done what we’ve asked them to do.”

Last season, the UIndy softball team was the only unranked team at the World Series. This year Frost-Fisher said their ultimate goal is winning in the month of May.

“We have to continue doing what we need to do to work towards our goal,” Frost-Fisher said. “And our goal is [winning and advancing in] May [when the postseason begins].”