Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  | Photo Gallery
 
INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Indianapolis softball team (37-9, 26-4 GLVC) created a number of memorable moments in Saturday's doubleheader split with rival Bellarmine.  Though junior Taylor Russell's walk-off double in game one loomed large, the team's biggest victory came with the celebrating of its annual MDA Day at Baumgartner Field.  Among the festivities was a presentation of a $4,578 check to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
 
In an effort to raise awareness and money for the MDA, both UIndy and Bellarmine wore special "Team Liam" jerseys to display a united front against muscular dystrophy.  The name "Team Liam" was adopted in honor of Liam Ealy, nephew of Greyhound softball alum Megan (Hall) Slightom, who was diagnosed with MD at a young age.
 
Admission to Saturday's doubleheader was free, with donations to the MDA accepted at the gate.  "Team Liam" t-shirts were also on sale, while Liam himself was on hand to throw out the first pitch.  Click the link above to view a photo gallery of the celebration.
 
Meanwhile, the two GLVC East powers did battle between the lines, with UIndy taking game one, 4-3, and the Knights (33-13, 26-8) winning game two, 7-3.
 
GAME 1
The majority of the opener unfolded like a classic pitchers' duel.  Starters Morgan Foley and Alicia Miller mowed through their respective opponent's line-up, with Foley and the Greyhounds holding a slim 1-0 lead after six innings.  Neither pitcher allowed a hit in the first three frames, with Foley's no-hit bid lasting through six innings.
 
Foley's no-no disappeared after a questionable call in the seventh and final inning.  Bellarmine No. 8-hitter Kayla Padgett led off the frame and appeared to dribble a lightly-struck ball off her leg.  The home plate umpire ruled it a fair ball, however, and Padgett beat the throw to first to record the Knights' first hit of the day.
 
Bellarmine made it hurt, as a well-placed bunt by third baseman Kelsey Hicks put two runners on for Erica Knollman.  The Knights' three-hole hitter drove the first pitch she saw to the opposite field, clearing the right field fence to give the visitors a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
 
The Greyhounds shook off the blow and delivered one of their own, scoring four runs in their final at bat to make a well-deserved winner of Foley.  Freshman Tayler Weck got the rally started with a leadoff single.  A walk from Sydney Russell and a single by Erika Goodwin eventually set up a bases-loaded, two-out situation for Sydney's twin sister Taylor.
 
Taylor came up big with a clutch double down the left field line, plating the tying and winning runs.

Foley (28-4) finished with 13 strikeouts in the complete-game win.
 
GAME 2
The Knights rode a power surge to the win in game two, as a pair of homers from Ally Foster and another one from Knollman plated four Bellarmine tallies.   Knollman's fifth-inning bomb to straight-away center proved to be the game winner.
 
The Hounds took a brief 3-2 lead with a productive four frame.  Trailing 2-0 with one out and nobody on, the Greyhounds strung together three straight hits, capped by a another two-run double by Taylor Russell.  The hit plated Katie Kelly and Casey Williamson to knot it at 2-2.  Later in the inning, senior Cori Eckerle drew a base-loaded walk to put the Greyhounds up one before the Knights' explosion in the fifth.
 
UIndy would coax three walks in the seventh inning to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but the rally ended there, allowing the Knights to salvage the split.
 
Sophomore pitcher Coryn Tirpak (1-1) was charged with the loss.  She walked zero batters in her 4 2/3 innings of work but gave up seven hits and five runs (four earned).
 
UIndy hosts Southern Indiana Sunday for the final doubleheader of the regular season.  The Greyhounds will honor its four seniors before the game.  First pitch is scheduled for noon ET.