ALLENDALE, Mich. – The No. 7 UIndy softball team capped a rollercoaster of a day with a 7-5 comeback win against Hillsdale College at the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Friday evening. The second-seeded Greyhounds (45-7) won the elimination contest with three runs in the top of the seventh inning, earning a spot in Saturday's regional final.
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Earning a rematch with the team that defeated them
earlier in the day, UIndy will face No. 1-seed Grand Valley State tomorrow and will need to defeat the host Lakers twice to capture the Midwest crown. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.
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INS & OUTS
Already having gained and lost the lead twice, the Hounds were trailing by a run heading into their final at bat. UIndy wasted no time revving up, as
Kamrie Foster (single) and
Emily O'Connor (double) led off with back-to-back knocks to put two runners in scoring position, including the potential go-ahead run.
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Though the rest of the inning did not feature a hit, UIndy retook the lead and then some, stringing together two walks, a hit by pitch and an RBI groundout;
Haylie Foster,
Sydnee Perry and
Taylor Danielson each picked up a ribbie in the deciding frame.
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Lexy Rees was in the mix throughout most of the game, finishing with three runs, three walks and a solo home run.
Brooke Montgomery added a sac fly.
In the circle, freshman
Kenzee Smith (24-3) got the win, pitching 5 2/3 innings and scattering seven hits and five walks.
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INSIDE THE BOX
- UIndy faced deficits of 3-1 after the second inning and 5-4 after the sixth.
- Rees' solo shot marked the first homer hit in the nine games this far at the regional.
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Gianni Iannantone's second hit of the night – a third-inning single – upped her career hit total to 200, joining teammate
Brooke Montgomery as two of just 11 players in school history to reach the milestone.
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