INDIANAPOLIS – A four-run eighth inning and a strong performance by the UIndy bullpen helped the No. 22-ranked Greyhound baseball team erase a late deficit to earn a 9-7 win over Notre Dame College on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Hounds (4-2) held the Falcons (1-2) scoreless over the final four innings and the offense came to life with five hits in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead for good.  Storm Joop drove in three runs, which included a go-ahead two-run single in the decisive inning. Devon Hensley, Blake Richardson and Nick Miller had three hits each for UIndy.
 
For the second day in a row, the Hounds jumped out to an early lead, getting on the board in the bottom of the second on an RBI triple from Richardson. The Falcons evened things up in the top of the third, but UIndy answered in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Joop.
 
Notre Dame took their first lead of the day with four runs on five hits off UIndy starter Reid Werner to make it a 5-2 game. But just as they've done so many times this weekend, the Greyhounds had an answer in the bottom of the inning. UIndy scored three times with a two-out single from Miller bringing the Hounds back to even at 5-5.
 
The Falcons jumped back in front in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of two UIndy errors to make it a 7-5 game. Notre Dame had an opportunity to tack on to the lead in the top of the eighth, loaded the bases with two outs. But the Hounds would stay in the game as Chris Boettcher forced an inning-ending groundout from Austin Barnhart to keep the deficit at two.
 
The UIndy bats picked up their pitcher in the bottom of the eighth, taking the lead with six singles in the inning. Hensley cut the deficit to one with an RBI bunt single and stole second on the next pitch.
 
With runners on second and third, Joop put the Hounds back in front with a line shot that went off of Kenny Pierson's glove and into center field, scoring Hensley and Ryan Wood. Kyle Orloff made it a two-run game later in the inning, scoring Joop on a bloop single down the right field line.
 
Dylan Stutsman made the lead stand in the ninth, striking out Adam Purdy with two on to end the game and earn his third save of the year.
 
Werner earned the no-decision after allowing five runs on eight hits in four innings of work. Michael Schalasky tossed 3 1/3 innings of one-hit ball before turning it over to Boettcher (1-1), who earned the first win of his career after getting the last two outs in the eighth.
 
UIndy makes their first of two trips to Evansville, Ind. next weekend for the Dunn Hospitality Classic, hosted by the University of Southern Indiana. The Hounds open up the weekend against GLVC West Division foe Missouri-St. Louis on Friday, Feb. 24.
 
First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.