2009 Daktronics, Inc. All-Midwest Region Softball Team

EVANSVILLE, Ind.-  Junior Megan Russell and senior Maggie Swanson have each earned recognition on the 2009 Daktronics, Inc. All-Midwest Region Softball Team released today.  Russell is the region's first team honoree at designated player and Swanson garnered a second-team nod in the outfield.  The pair have helped UIndy advance to the NCAA Super Regionals set for Friday and Saturday at Saginaw Valley State University.

Russell, who was also an All-Region member as a freshman on her way to All-America honors, continues to pile-on to her season and career records at the University of Indianapolis.  She has a region-leading 17 homers this season and has added 50 runs batted in, both easily breaking the school's single-single marks.  Russell is slugging .730 on the season and also leads the team in batting average (.344), hits (56), total bases (119) and on base percentage (.416).

In addition to her work at the plate, Russell has led the Greyhound pitching staff with a 17-9 record and a 1.39 earned run average, including three wins at the NCAA Regional last week.  She has eight shutouts and has struck out 149 batters.

Swanson has anchored the centerfield position for UIndy, hitting .324 with six homers and 28 RBI.  The senior leads the team in runs (46), doubles (11) and steals (21) and has stepped up in the NCAA tournament, going 5-for-10 last week including a 4-for-4 effort in the Regional final against Wayne State.  Her two-run homer in the sixth inning provided the winning runs in the 6-4 win.  A day earlier, Swanson and the Hounds beat All-Region Pitcher of the Year Allyson DeFosset, besting the Tritons 3-0 to advance to championship Sunday. 

The Greyhounds and Russell are now tasked with stopping the region's Player of the Year Marsha Beaubien and the SVSU Cardinals.  The Cards host the Hounds Friday at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday at noon as the teams battle in a best-of-three series for a berth in the NCAA Division II World Series in Salem, Va. May 21-25.