INDIANAPOLIS - The No. 11-ranked UIndy softball team swept Mercyhurst in two five-inning games on Saturday afternoon. The double-header took place at Beech Grove High School, the Greyhounds shut out the Lakers 8-0 in the first game and 11-0 in the second game.
 
GAME 1 | UIndy 8, Mercyhurst 0 (5 innings)
UIndy opened its 2024 campaign with a quick 5-inning mercy game against Mercyhurst.
 
The first UIndy run of the season was off of a third-inning home run by Lexy Rees. Rees plated herself and Jocelyn Calvin to make it 2-0. Later with Braxton Downs and Tori Angles on base, Sydnee Perry sent one over the fence for the second homer of the frame. The inning finished with a 6-0 lead in favor of UIndy.
 
In the fourth, after hitting a single Calvin was able to steal second and third. This set up a sacrifice opportunity for Rees, who brought her teammate home with a fly ball to right.
 
The Greyhounds were able to secure the five-inning win with a walk-off walk, enacting the mercy rule. Calvin worked the bases loaded walk, scoring Dominique Proctor with the final tally.

All-American Kenzee Smith was the starting pitcher for the Hounds in the open game of the season. Smith remained in the circle for the whole contest, only allowing three hits by the Lakers in the shutout.
 
GAME 2 | UIndy 11, Mercyhurst 0 (5 innings)
The Hounds came out strong in the batter's box in the first inning. Calvin got things started with leadoff single and the flood gates opened from there. Five walks and a hit by pitch followed, with Jayden Casebolt's three-run double thrown in for good measure. After only one inning, the Hounds led Mercyhurst, 6-0.
 
The Greyhounds were back at it in the third, hanging five more runs on the board. Rees was able to send the ball flying over the fence for the second time of the day in the third inning. Calvin, who was on base after being walked and stealing second and third base, helped fuel the rally. After a walk for O'Connor, Downs stepped up to bat and hit a home run of her own, increasing the UIndy lead to 11. This was also the first homer for the graduate transfer in Crimson and Grey.
 
Casebolt started in the circle for the Greyhounds. She only allowed one hit for Mercyhurst, which came in the first inning. Freshman Addie Neal made her first appearance in a Hound uniform in the final inning.
 
UP NEXT
UIndy will return to Beech Grove High School for another doubleheader against Mercyhurst. The first pitch is slated for 11 a.m., with the second game following the conclusion of the first.