ALLENDALE, Mich. – The top two seeds at the NCAA DII Softball Midwest Regional squared off Friday afternoon, with No. 1-seeded Grand Valley State hosting second-seeded UIndy. The Lakers used a four-run third inning to fuel a 6-0 win versus the Greyhounds (44-7).
 
UIndy now moves to an elimination contest later this afternoon at 4:30 p.m., facing fifth-seeded Hillsdale, while Grand Valley advances to Saturday's regional final.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In a matchup featuring two of the top pitchers in the region, the Lakers applied the pressure early on freshman hurler Kenzee Smith and the Greyhound defense, loading the bases in the top of the first with just one out. They managed to coax a walk to push across the first run of the game, but Smith fanned the next two hitters to minimize the damage.
 
The Lakers struck again in the third, stringing together six hits and plating four runs. The outburst chased Smith (23-3) from her second career NCAA postseason start, ending her outing at 2 2/3 innings.
 
Offensively, the Hounds totaled just three hits and two walks against Grand Valley ace Hannah Beatus (23-2); Kamrie Foster had a single and a hit by pitch, while Lexy Rees managed a sixth-inning double.