INDIANAPOLIS-  The UIndy baseball team (27-19, 16-18 GLVC) split its doubleheader with Kentucky Wesleyan Sunday, 8-0 and 2-4, but the feature happening of the day was Head Coach Gary Vaught's donation to Riley Hospital for Children.

For the second consecutive year, Coach Vaught made a promise before the season to donate $500 to Riley Hospital for every homerun that hit the large target positioned just past the left field fence of Greyhound Park.  Though none hit the mark this year, Vaught proudly presented a $1000-dollar check to five-year-old Riley patient Grace Bennett and her parents, Chris and Stephanie, on behalf of Riley.

The donation was sandwiched by the recognition of UIndy's seniors and two ceremonial first pitches, one thrown by Grace and one by Debbie Collier, mother of former Greyhound baseball player Danny.


GAME ONE | box score
The Greyhounds had little trouble with KWC in the opener, blanking the visiting Panthers (16-21, 10-16) eight-zip.

Starter Cory Rupert had his sights on his second complete-game shutout of the season, but the Southport, Ind., native was pulled after the first hitter of the sixth inning struck him with a batted ball.  After three practice pitches were nowhere near the strike zone, Rupert was lifted in favor of the Greyhound 'pen.  Relievers Matt Widick and Tyler Norton kept KWC off the board to rest of the way give the Hounds their fourth shutout of the season.

In addition to earning two HBPs at the plate, sophomore Ryan Wides gunned down three base runners from his position in centerfield, including two at home plate.

Kaleb Cunningham, Aryn Ross and Brandon Stevens each had at least three hits, with Cunningham going 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored.


GAME TWO | box score
The Hounds looked to keep their postseason hopes alive with a win in game two, but the Panthers hung three runs on the board in the seventh and final inning to take the contest in a 4-2 final.

UIndy picked up two runs in second and led 2-1 most of the game.  Starter Donovan Drake held KWC to a one unearned run through his six innings before giving way to closer Chris Saroff.

Saroff, the reigning GLVC Pitcher of the Week, gave up a leadoff single and walked the second hitter.  Both runs later scored on a game-winning triple from KWC first baseman Jordan White.  The resulting loss was Saroff's first of the season.

Both UIndy runs came on an RBI single from sophomore Andrew Armour.


The loss officially eliminates UIndy from postseason play, as the Hounds will miss the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament for the first time since 2005.  The Greyhounds wrap up their 2011 season with another doubleheader versus KWC at Greyhound Park Monday starting at noon EDT.