ORLANDO, Fla. – The No. 2 UIndy softball team suffered its first defeat at the NCAA Division II Championship Wednesday, falling 2-1 to 13th-ranked Western Washington in a marathon 12-inning affair. With both teams now sporting one loss on the week, the two schools will run it back later this evening for a spot in in the best-of-three championship final. First pitch is estimated for approximately 6 p.m. ET.
 
The championship are being held at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Orlando, Fla. The eight-team, double-elimination tournament started Sunday, and only two teams will remain at the end of the day today.
 
INS & OUTS
Wednesday's first game lasted three hours and 24 minutes before a winner emerged. Pitching ace Kenzee Smith went the distance for the Hounds. After the Vikings pushed across an unearned run in the top of the first, Smith piled up 10 consecutive scoreless innings before the game winner finally crossed home plate in the top of the 12th.
 
That final tally marked the first earned run that Smith has allowed in the NCAA Tournament. She had given up just two unearned run in the previous 64 innings of work.
 
UIndy's lone run came in the bottom of the third. Down 1-0 for their first deficit of the week, the Hounds tied it up with some hustle from Megan Nichols. After a one-out single, the all-region center fielder stole second and then came all the way home on a groundout and subsequent throwing error.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- Smith moved to 39-4 on the year and remains one win shy of matching the program's single-season record. She scattered eight hits today—all singles—while walking zero.
- Fifth-year senior Emily O'Connor reached base four times, compiling two hits and two walks.
- All told, UIndy stranded 14 base runners and went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
 
MORE NOTES
Both O'Connor and Smith were named All-America First Team earlier in the day … separated by some 2,300 road miles, UIndy and Western Washington had never faced off before today … the Hounds are making their first World Series appearance in nine years and third overall.