ALLENDALE, Mich. – The UIndy softball team wrapped up its season Saturday afternoon with a 5-0 loss to No. 9-ranked Grand Valley State at the 2018 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional. The Greyhounds finish the year with a record of 39-20, while the host Lakers move on to another elimination game versus Hillsdale College later this afternoon.
 
The day started as quite the pitchers' duel, as All-GLVC First Teamer Lauren Honkomp matched up with GLIAC Pitcher of the Year Allison Lipovsky. The two offenses combined for just one hit through the first five innings, but regardless, it was the Lakers that broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth.
 
Senior Teagan Shomin, GVSU's all-time leader in hit by pitch, took one on the arm to put the leadoff batter on first. Three consecutive sacrifice bunts followed – only one of which produced an out – to push across the first run of the day. Honkomp got a strikeout, one of nine on the day, to get the second out, but a dropped pop up scored an unearned tally to put the Lakers up 2-0.
 
Grand Valley tacked on three more runs in the sixth, as Kaylie Rhynard and Kaitlyn Plocinski delivered RBI singles.
 
The Hounds finally got their first hit in the bottom of the sixth on a bloop single by freshman Brooke Montgomery, but aside from two earlier HBPs by Shannon Schuetz, UIndy could not muster much production versus Lipovsky (21-4). The junior ace finished with a line of seven innings pitched, one hit, 15 Ks and zero walks.
 
The result marks the end of the playing careers of seniors Julia Liceaga and Jessie Noone. Liceaga immediately took on a leadership role as the starting catcher after she transferred to UIndy prior to the 2017 season. Noone was a starter in the UIndy outfield for all four seasons, as she finishes her career in the program's career top 10 in a number of offensive categories, including ranking second in sacrifice hits (31) and fourth in doubles (42).