MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Indianapolis softball team made the trip south to Alabama for the start of the 2016 campaign. The fifth-ranked Greyhounds swept a double-header Friday against Montevallo (6-10) with ease, finishing the day with a 21-3 scoring advantage.

Junior Natalie Lalich had five hits on the day, including a home run and six RBI's. Lalich was part of a top-four in the UIndy (2-0) batting order that totaled a staggering 20 hits in the two games and scored 15 of the team's 21 runs.

GAME ONE (#5 UIndy 9 – Montevallo 1)
Senior pitcher Morgan Foley, who entered the season 379 strikeouts away from the Division II career record, earned the win in game one behind a strong offensive debut for the Greyhound bats. Foley allowed one run through five innings of work, surrendering five hits and striking out seven.

UIndy got on the board in the top of the first, when Lalich singled home sophomore Jessie Noone. A three-run third inning was more than enough insurance for Foley, as the Hounds never looked back after scoring first.

The top of the order was the story all afternoon for the Hounds. Senior Erika Goodwin, batting in the second spot, went 4-for-5 in game one with two doubles and three RBI's. Not to be outdone, Noone and Lalich, hitting third and fourth, respectively, each tallied three hits. The two combined for four RBI's and scored five runs.

Sophomore catcher Sammy Beckwith also added two hits and an RBI. 

GAME TWO (#5 UIndy 12 – Montevallo 2, 5 innings)
The Greyhounds wasted no time getting on the board in game two, scoring four times in the top of the first. Erika Goodwin opened the scoring with an RBI double and scored three batters later when Marisa Brown drew a bases loaded walk. Cassie Reed added a sac fly and Sammy Beckwith followed with an RBI single to make it 4-0 Hounds after one.
 
The Falcons got on the board with a run in their first trip to the plate, but Natalie Lalich added to the UIndy lead in the top of the second with a two-out, three run home run that made it 7-1 Hounds.
 
The Hounds tacked on five more runs in their half of the fifth inning with the first six hitters reaching base. Beckwith, Katie Kelly, Goodwin, Jessie Noone and Jenny Thompson all collected an RBI in the inning as UIndy recorded six hits in their half of the frame.
 
It was more than enough support for UIndy starter Miranda Tamayo (1-0), who allowed two runs on just five hits with three strikeouts and no walks in the five-inning tilt.
 
UIndy tagged Montevallo starter Jostlyn Higgerson (4-4) for seven runs on eight hits in 1 2/3 innings, walking once and striking out three times.
 
The Greyhounds continue their trip down south on Saturday, heading to Florence, Ala. For the University of North Alabama Invitational and a pair of games against the University of West Georgia. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. eastern time.