UIndy 11, Drury 4
UIndy 14, Drury 2 (5 inn.)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-  Senior Megan Russell belted three homers and drove-in a dozen runs in a two-game sweep of Drury University Sunday, 11-4 and 14-2.  Russell and the Greyhounds have rebounded from a sluggish 3-7 start to win nine straight and improve to 4-0 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

The reigning GLVC Player of the Year is heating up, homering in three straight contests and leading a UIndy offense that has scored double-digit runs in three straight games.  While the bats have come alive, the pitching has been superb during the win streak, posting six shutouts and allowing just eight runs in the nine contests.

Russell went 4-for-5 with five RBI and a homer in the opener while also throwing a complete-game win with three earned runs and nine strikeouts.  Not to be outdone, she reached in all four plate appearances in game two, scoring each time.  Two of those runs were on her own homeruns, including a third-inning grand slam that helped her to amass seven RBI in the nightcap. 

For the day, Russell was 6-for-7 with three homers and 12 RBI.  Her performance Sunday parallels her stellar junior season, when she went on an unbelievable power surge that saw her homer in five straight games beginning on Mar. 15 in the second league doubleheader of the year.   She would go on to hammer a school-record 17 dingers last season, leading the Hounds to the regional title and earning herself Second Team All-America honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Sunday, UIndy (12-7, 4-0 GLVC) grabbed an early lead with two runs in the opening inning.  The Hounds tacked-on a seven-spot in the fourth on a two-run double by Jamie Keltz and Russell's first homer of the day, a three-run shot.   DU (6-14, 3-4) scored the next four runs over the next three innings to close it to 9-4 but again it was Keltz and Russell with run-scoring singles in the top of the seventh to effectively put the game away, 11-4.

In game two of a rainy, dreary doubleheader, a sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk gave UIndy a lead after a half-inning.  Drury would respond with a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame until Indianapolis again posted two runs in the top of the next inning on a two-run shot from Russell.   The Hounds broke the game open in the third with five runs.   Brooke Johnson drove in the first run before Russell emptied the bases with her grand slam and a 9-2 Hound lead.  Another five-spot in the fifth inning for UIndy came on a bases-loaded merry-go-round.  Russell walked to score the first run and singles by Ashley Boxley and Carmen Martinez followed.   After Audrey Ernst walked for the 11th UIndy run, Johnson drove home the fifth run of the inning with her fifth hit of the day as the Hounds would go on to post the 14-2 win in five innings.

Jennifer DeMotte earned the win in the circle in game two, tossing five innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking-out a pair.

The Greyhounds remain out west to face Rockhurst Monday in a league doubleheader.  First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Notes:  Russell's homers included a two-run, three-run and grand slam shot ... Johnson went 5-for-6 with four runs in the doubleheader, part of three Hounds with at least five hits (Russell- 6, Keltz- 5) ... UIndy's nine-straight victories ties the school's second-longest winning streak ... The Hounds strung nine straight together last season and the 1990 squad rattled-of 12 consecutive to open the campaign.