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DETROIT – The third-seeded UIndy softball team (42-12) began the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional 2 on the short end of an 8-0 final against No. 6-seed Grand Valley State Friday evening.  In a rematch of last season's Super Regional, GVSU starter Lauren Gevaart surrendered just three hits in the shutout victory.
 
GVSU (30-12) will advance to the winners' bracket to face host Wayne State tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET.  UIndy faces an elimination game versus Ashland tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
 
In a rematch of last year's Super Regional, the Lakers struck first in the top of the second.  A small-ball run followed by a two-run bomb put the defending up 3-0 in the early going.  Senior shortstop Brittany Taylor put a charge into a Morgan Foley fast ball, clearing the left center fence despite the wind blowing in.
 
Grand Valley tacked on another in the third inning with an RBI single by freshman Jenna Lenza.
 
Foley (31-7) settled in to throw three scoreless innings from that point until the Lakers chased her in the seventh.  She struck out five but was charged with a season-high even earned runs.
 
Meanwhile, the Greyhound offense failed to generate any run support, as Gevaart fanned nine to up her record to 13-2 on the season.
 
Down just four runs in teh fourth, UIndy had a golden opportunity after putting two on with nobody out.  Back-to-back bunt singles from Taylor Russell and Alexa Alfaro opened the frame, but Gevaart escaped with a strikeout and two harmless pop-ups to keep the Hounds off the board.
 
Russell once again managed a lead-off knock in the sixth, this time with a clean single to left, but the Hounds went down in order to end the rally before it could get started.

Links to live stats and an audio stream for tomorrow's match-up with Ashland can be found on the tournament's official homepage.


Notes: Both UIndy and Grand Valley have twin sisters starting in the field – Taylor and Sydnay Russell for the Hounds and Briauna and Brittany Taylor the Lakers … The four coaches at the NCAA D-II Midwest Regional 2 have combined for 98 years of coaching experience and nearly 3,300 career wins.