The Online Reflector

After beginning the 2011 season 6-0, the No. 7 Greyhound softball team lost and tied No. 4 Alabama-Huntsville in a double-header on Feb. 27. The team now stands at 8-1-1 for the young season.

The 4-3 defeat was the UIndy’s first loss of the season, and a second match-up with the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers the same day resulted in their first tie at 3-3.

In the first Alabama-Huntsville game, the Greyhounds claimed the first run. Senior catcher/outfielder Jessica Breeden and freshman outfielder Che’ Hanebrink were both walked in the first inning. Freshman pitcher/infielder Lauren Edwards loaded the bases with a single and freshman infielder Krysta Bradford assisted with an RBI to give the Greyhounds the game’s first run.

Freshmen catcher/infielder Dakota Malayar and freshman outfielder DeVyn Barker both scored in the third, giving UIndy an early 3-0 lead. However, the sixth inning brought with it four Charger runs. The Chargers held their 4-3 lead for the remainder of the game.

“We really got contributions from players one through nine, and that’s what we needed,” said Head Coach Melissa Frost-Fisher. “It never sank in that we have a loss on our record because we played so well.”

The Greyhounds met the Chargers later the same day and put up runs from Barker and seniors outfielder/pitcher Jennifer DeMotte and infielder Jamie Keltz. The Chargers answered with runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings, eventually tying the score at 3-3.

The game was called due to darkness following the eighth inning, resulting in the 3-3 tie.

Despite a loss and tie on the weekend, Greyhound morale remains high.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” DeMotte said. “I think we proved we were the better team, even if the score doesn’t show it.”

On Feb. 26, UIndy put up 16 total runs in double games against North Alabama. The Greyhounds held the Lions to 9-3 in the first game and 7-1 in the second.

The UIndy roster was full of contributors to the two wins over North Alabama. The Greyhounds plated five runs on only two hits, but several Greyhounds put up singles throughout the game.

Noteworthy was Malayar, who went 4-for-8 on the day and contributed five RBIs.

“She powered in some RBIs for us,” Frost-Fisher said. “She really came out big when we needed her.”

The Charger Chillout, hosted by Alabama-Huntsville on Feb. 20, gave UIndy two decisive victories over Ohio Dominican and West Alabama, with scores of 15-1 and 7-1, respectively.

In the Ohio Dominican match-up, the Greyhounds put up eight runs in the second inning alone. Hanebrink smashed a home run into left field in the fifth, while Keltz added a triple in the same inning. The 15-1 victory was the 200th win for Frost-Fisher as the UIndy head coach.

During the West Alabama game, DeMotte allowed only four hits on the day, striking out nine batters. She also led the team
to the 7-1 victory in batting as well, going 3-for-4 and putting up an RBI.

After her performance on the field during the North Alabama and Ohio Dominican contests, DeMotte was named NFCA National Division II Pitcher of the Week. She is the first UIndy softball player to receive this honor.

“It feels more like a team award,” DeMotte said. “I don’t want to take credit because it is something that we all worked for.”

The Greyhounds will head to conference play in the coming weeks, facing rivals Quincy and Wayne State. The team continues play with doubleheaders at Illinois-Springfield and Quincy on March 11 and 12.

“I have no doubt that this year we are going to the World Series,” DeMotte said. “And we are going to win.”