EAST PEORIA, Ill. – The No. 7-ranked UIndy softball team (38-5) opened the 2021 GLVC Championship Tournament Thursday with a 9-5 comeback win against Illinois Springfield. The Greyhounds combined for five home runs on the day to overcome an early four-run deficit.
 
The Hounds move on to face fifth-seeded Rockhurst tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET. The Hawks routed Maryville, 14-0, in the morning game Thursday as starting pitcher Lexie Storrer tossed only the second perfect game in school history.
 
The four-day, double-elimination bracket is being played out at the Eastside Centre in East Peoria, Ill., Thursday through Sunday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The top-seeded Hounds got off to a bumpy start when freshly-named GLVC Pitcher of the Year Hallie Waters surrendered a grand slam in the top of the first inning.
 
UIndy out-muscled the Prairie Stars from that point, however, blasting five homers between the second and sixth innings. Freshman Sydnee Perry made a memorable conference tournament debut, connecting for two of the Hounds' five dingers. Her solo shot in the second got the Greyhounds on the board, while her two-run bomb in the third was the go-ahead hit.
 
All-GLVC honorees Emily O'Connor, Taylor Danielson and Lexy Rees each contributed a two-run homer.
 
A leadoff single and a walk started the Stars' third inning, prompting a pitching change. GLVC Freshman of the Year Kenzee Smith (19-1) came on in relief to pitch 4 2/3 scoreless and hitless frames to get the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- O'Connor finished with two hits, two runs, two RBIs and two walks.
- Danielson upped her GLVC-leading home run total to 14, matching the third-highest single-season total in program history.
- Haylie Foster went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Brooke Montgomery twice reached base via a hit by pitch, increasing her own UIndy career record.
- All 13 of the game's runs were scored via the long ball.