INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The University of Indianapolis softball team won its third game in a row on Sunday as the Hounds swept a doubleheader versus Northern Kentucky at Baumgartner Field.  Freshman Megan Russell (pictured) went 5-for-6 with seven RBI’s on the day, including two triples and a grand slam, while also earning her 11th win from the circle..

 

UIndy (25-16, 12-8 GLVC) jumped on the board first as Lauren Booten drew a first-inning walk and scored on Russell’s three-bagger.

 

After the Norse tied the game in the top of the third, the Hounds quickly regained the lead in the bottom half.  Julie Zaitz found the left-center gap and was plated on a single from Russell.  After a Colleen Roach single, Jessica Breeden sent the ball back up the middle to score Russell.

 

In the sixth, the Norse (22-24, 7-13 GLVC) were able to close the gap and looked to tie the contest before the Hounds’ defense thwarted the notion.  After a single and a double started the frame, Northern Kentucky pulled within one and had the tying run on second with no one out.  NKU sacrificed the runner to third and were primed to knot the game.

 

First baseman Becky Napier sent a short fly to right that was caught by Kathy Blanchard.  The runner tagged up and Blanchard fired it home to Roach who applied the tag, allowing the Hounds to escape the inning on the 9-2 double play.

 

UIndy tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom half and went on to win 5-2.  Greyhound starter Amanda Wendlinger allowed two earned and struck out six in the complete game win, her tenth of the year.

 

The Hounds scored first again in the second game as Russell made it two straight games with a first-inning, RBI triple.  The well-placed rope down the right field line plated Blanchard, who finished the game with three hits and two runs scored.  Russell would later touch home on an error by the Norse pitcher.

 

With the score still 2-0 with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, UIndy mounted an impressive rally.  Respectively, Blanchard, Zaitz and Booten singled, walked and singled before Russell sent a 1-0 offering to dead center for her second grand slam of the season.

 

Russell, also the game two starter, had a no-hitter through three-and-two-thirds and a shutout through six before the Norse finally broke through.  Two NKU homeruns in the last inning resulted in four runs to make it interesting but senior second baseman Madison Dickman corralled a difficult pop-up for the third and final out in the last home game of her college career.

 

Russell allowed just two hits in the first six innings and finished with 11 K’s, her fourth straight start with at least 10 strikeouts.

 

UIndy wraps up the regular season with six straight road games, starting with in-region foe Hillsdale on Thursday, Apr. 26.  The double dip is scheduled to begin at 3:30 pm local time.