SMYRNA, Tenn. – The No. 3-ranked UIndy softball team opened its 2025 season at the Music City Invitational. The Greyhounds endured a pair of close in-region losses on opening day, falling 3-1 to Ashland and 4-2 to Cedarville.
 
The youth-infused Greyhound lineup featured five true freshmen, while sophomore Cara Cooper led the UIndy bats with two hits and two RBIs on the day.
 
GAME 1 | Ashland 3, UIndy 1
Opening-day starter Jayden Casebolt tossed two hitless innings before the Eagles broke through the bottom of the third. A leadoff double, a walk and a fielding error conspired to plate a pair of Ashland runs, both of which were unearned.
 
UIndy first run of the season came in the top of the fifth. Casebolt helped her own cause with a leadoff walk and came around to score on a Cara Cooper triple.
 
In the sixth, the Hounds managed to put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position but ultimately could not capitalize. Ashland later tacked on a single tally with an RBI knock in the sixth.
 
Freshman and opening-day centerfielder Sydney Oliver finished her first collegiate contest with a walk and a single. Junior-transfer Ella Palm coaxed a pair of walks, while seniors Jocelyn Calvin and Shelby Cook had a base hit apiece.
 
Casebolt (0-1) took the loss in the circle, allowing four hits and fanning five in six innings pitched.
 
GAME 2 | Cedarville 4, UIndy 2
In a contest that featured a lengthy lightning delay, the Lady Jackets took control with a four-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run triple from freshman Ella Leonard.
 
Freshman Cheyenne Eads (0-1) garnered the game-two start, going the distance in her collegiate debut in the circle. She finished with a line of 7.0 innings pitched, six hits, four runs and eight Ks.
 
The Hounds pushed across a run in both the fourth and the fifth frames. The scoring started with Cooper driving home the UIndy pitcher her the second straight game, plating Eads with a single after the latter found a gap for a one-out double. Shelby Cook earned the other ribbie with a sac fly to score Oliver—who also doubled.
 
Palm and Brooklyn Willis each had a single, Cook added two walks and Oliver earned an outfield assist.
 
UP NEXT
UIndy concludes in stay in the Nashville area with two more games Saturday, capped by a Super Regional rematch against 17th-ranked Trevecca Nazarene.