UIndy Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 2-ranked and top-seeded UIndy softball team opened the 2026 NCAA DII Midwest Regional Thursday afternoon with a 6-4 comeback win versus eight-seed Tiffin. Junior Paige Vickery belted a two-homer in the bottom of the fifth to give the Greyhounds a lead they would not relinquish.
 
UP NEXT 
UIndy remains in the winners' bracket and will face fourth-seeded Saginaw Valley tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET. The Dragons, meanwhile, head to an elimination game versus No. 5-seed Ashland at 1:30 p.m.
 
INS & OUTS
In a rematch of last year's regional-opening game, the Hounds jumped in front early with a two-run first inning. Later, senior Shelby Cook recorded her second RBI single of the day in the third to up the lead to 3-0.
 
The Dragons, however, authored a two-out rally on the top of the fourth to move in front. With one on and two down, Tiffin strung together a single, a walk and a home run to snatch a sudden 4-3 advantage.
 
Despite losing the lead, UIndy remained undeterred. All-conference third baseman Maya Rodriguez wore a pitch to earn a free base. Vickery stepped in the box and shook off an 0-2 count to send a ball the opposite way and into the right field netting to make it 5-4 Hounds.
 
UIndy tacked on an insurance tally in the sixth on a sac fly from Cheyenne Eads.
 
On the flip side, Eads earned the win in the circle, working 5 1/3 innings and striking out three. The decision moved her to 30-2 on the year, making her the just the fifth Greyhound to reach the 30-win plateau.
 
Freshman lefty and GLVC Co-Pitcher of the Year Caitlin Bunte took over to get the final five outs and earn her third save of the year.

At the plate, junior Cara Cooper did not make an out all afternoon, amassing three walks and a single while swiping a bag and scoring twice.