Box score

ASHLAND, Ohio-  Despite just a pair of hits, UIndy grabbed a 1-0 win over Wayne State University in the opening round of the NCAA Midwest Regional tournament Friday afternoon at Brookside Park.  Chrissy Stephens delivered the Hounds lone run, scoring on a groundout in the fifth inning making a winner of Megan Russell who picked up her seventh shutout of the year.

The game was scoreless through four, but each pitcher had to work out of jams to keep it that way.  Each team had a pair of runners in the first inning, but neither could scratch across a run.  WSU (38-15) may have had its best opportunity in the second when a hit led things off.  Russell rared back and got the next two batters via strikeout, part of her seven on the day.  A walk and a single loaded the bases until Russell induced a groundout to short to end the threat.

UIndy (32-18) finally broke the tie in the fifth with help from a Wayne State error.  Stephens roped a ball into rightfield to start the frame then Lindsey Gustine hit a chopper that Casey Hanes fielded but threw wild to first, allowing Stephens to get to third with none down. Jamie Keltz then hit a grounder to short as Stephens steamed towards home on contact.  She didn't beat the throw, but managed to slide under the tag for the only run.  The Hounds could have had more in that frame, loading the bases with no outs but Hanes got two strikeouts and a grounder to escape further damage.

Russell took the circle with the lead for the first time in the fifth.  WSU singled to start the frame, but the junior hurler did not allow another base runner the rest of the way to earn her 15th win of the season (15-9).

Keltz and Stephens had the only hits in the game for UIndy.  The 1-0 win marked the first 1-0 win for the Greyhounds this season and first since Mar. 15, 2006 (vs. Adelphi), a span of 185 games.

The Greyhounds advance in the winner's bracket of the four-team regional, playing the winner of tonight's matchup between host Ashland and eighth-seeded Missouri-St. Louis.  Catch the action live on WICR 88.7 FM or online at wicr.uindy.edu.