MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The 16th-ranked UIndy softball team (0-2) opened its 2017 season with a pair of losses at the Falcon Frenzy in Montevallo, Ala. The Greyhounds gave defending national-champ and top-ranked North Alabama all they could handle in a 5-4 loss before falling, 3-1, to a tough Delta State club.
 
Though these were the first games of the year for UIndy, both opponents already had six games under their belts. The Greyhounds look to bounce back in tomorrow's lone match-up when they face Mississippi College at 12:15 p.m. ET. Live stats will be available.
 
North Alabama 5, UIndy 4
The Hounds jumped out to 2-0 lead versus the talented Lions, as newcomer Dani Turner (double) and senior Katie Kelly (single) had back-to-back hits in the third inning, with both managing to come around on errors and break a scoreless tie.
 
Meanwhile, freshman Lauren Honkomp got the start in the circle and looked sharp through the first four innings. But after four scoreless frames, North Alabama finally broke through with a four-spot in the fifth, parlaying three hits, two errors and a walk into a big inning.
 
The Hounds delivered a counter punch in the top of the sixth, tying it up with a pair of runs. Senior Natalie Lalich led off the frame with a walk. Pinch runner Ariana Liceaga would score on a UNA throwing error, while senior Tayler Weck reached base on a fielder's choice and eventually scored on a Taylor Podschweit sac fly.
 
The Lions mustered one more rally in the bottom of the seventh, however, with a walkoff single by freshman Hannah Shollenberger proving to be the difference.
 
Honkomp (0-1) finished with a line of six-plus innings pitched, seven hits, four Ks and four walks. Turner and Kelly (pictured) each had two hits and a run, and Julia Liceaga added a double.
 
Delta State 3, UIndy 1
DSU needed just one hit to push across two runs in the top of the fifth, as defensive errors by the Hounds contributed to a pair of unearned tallies.
 
UIndy halved the lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Turner led off the frame with her first home run as a Greyhound. That would be all the offense the Hounds would generate, however, as DSU tacked on an insurance run in the seventh before going on to the 3-1 win.
 
Another freshman got the ball for UIndy in game two, as rookie Crystal Sicard (0-1) entered the circle for the first time as a collegian. The Brookfield, Wis., native gave up two unearned runs while fanning three and walking three in 4 1/3 innings of work. Honkomp came on in the fifth to pitch the final 2 2/3 innings.
 
Turner again led the way offensively. The Southeast Missouri State transfer finished the day with team highs in hits (3), runs scored (2) and total bases (7) in the two games combined.