UIndy Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 2-ranked and top-seeded UIndy softball team remained unbeaten at the NCAA DII Midwest Regional, downing third-seeded Saginaw Valley on Friday, 6-4. Following a 90-minute rain delay at the start of the day, the Greyhounds earned the victory behind a strong pitching performance from Caitlin Bunte and a second clutch homer in as many days from Paige Vickery.
 
UP NEXT 
UIndy advances to Saturday's regional final, where a rematch with the Cardinals awaits. First pitch is scheduled for noon Eastern.
 
INS & OUTS
With the score knotted at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Vickery lifted a pitch over the left field netting and onto National Ave., giving the Hounds a 5-3 lead. It marked the second straight day that Vickery hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning with two outs on an 0-2 count that put the Hounds in front.
 
Even after Cheyenne Eads tacked on a sac fly in the sixth to make it 6-3, the Cardinals managed to create some drama in the top of the seventh. Saginaw pushed across a run and with an two-out RBI single, bringing the potential go-ahead to the plate. Bunte finally shut the rally down, however, inducing a line out the center to seal the win.
 
Bunte moved to 27-3 on the year, striking out six and walking one in seven innings of work.
 
Shelby Cook upped her RBI total in the regional to four with a two-run double in the second. Brooklyn Willis, Cara Cooper and Maya Rodriguez finished with two hits apiece.