INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 1-seed UIndy softball team wrapped up an impressive run through the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Saturday, topping fourth-seeded Lewis in extra innings, 1-0. Fifth-year senior Emily O'Connor blasted a 1-0 delivery over the left-center fence to seal the win in dramatic fashion. Additionally, O'Connor's home run was her 18th of the season, breaking the program's 15-year-old record.
 
UIndy moves on to the NCAA DII Midwest Super Regional and will again play host. The Hounds will welcome the winner of the other Midwest Regional, with the Trevecca/Grand Valley matchup concluding later today. The Super Regional will be best-of-three series, with a quick turnaround scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 14-15.
 
INS & OUTS
In a rematch of last year's Midwest Regional final, the GLVC rivals battled to a scoreless tie through all seven innings of regulation. Still in the game, starting pitcher Kenzee Smith sat the Flyers down in order in the top of the eighth the set the stage for O'Connor.
 
O'Connor led off the Hounds' half of the eighth by taking strike one. The next pitch would not touch leather again, however, as O'Connor deposited it well over the left-center fence to give UIndy the win.
 

?? | WALK IT OFF FOR THE @UIndySoftball RECORD, EMILY O'CONNOR! pic.twitter.com/3S43fmOmVo

— UIndy Athletics (@UIndyAthletics) May 11, 2024

 
Smith, meanwhile, was fantastic in the circle once again. She blanked the Flyers for all eight frames and walked zero batters. Now 35-2 on the year, Smith started all three regional games for UIndy, tossing 20 scoreless innings while allowing just six total hits.
 
Smith also had the first Greyhound hit of the day—a single to left in the third inning. Megan Nichols added a sixth-inning double, while Shelby Cook and Sydnee Perry each had a pair of singles.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- UIndy's upped its program-record win total to 56.
- The upcoming Super Regional appearance marks the second straight for UIndy and sixth overall.
- O'Connor's 18th homer surpassed the previous UIndy single-season record of 17 set by Megan Russell in 2009.
- UIndy and Lewis faced each other four times this season—one game was decided by two runs and the rest were one-run affairs. All four contests were won by the Hounds.
- Smith did not allow a single run in 22 1/3 innings pitched versus the Flyers this season.