Championship Central |
Tournament Bracket | GLVCSN:
Game 1,
Game 2
EAST PEORIA, Ill. – After running through the regular season, No. 5 and top-seeded University of Indianapolis hoisted the 2021 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) softball tournament title on Sunday with a pair of wins over second-seeded McKendree University from the EastSide Centre.
Needing two wins, the Greyhounds stormed back in game on with a 5-3 victory over the Bearcats before plating another 16 runs in the night cap to hoist the trophy for the first time since 2016. Now sporting a record of 43-6, UIndy earns the automatic-qualifying bid to the 2021 NCAA Midwest Regional.
Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth in Sunday’s first game, Sydnee Perry launched an opposite-field, two-run dinger to put UIndy ahead for good. Sydnie Foster singled two batters later to drive home Taylor Danielson for an insurance tally before Kenzee Smith closed out the win inside the circle.
The deciding game was all Greyhounds, as the top seed scored 11 runs before the Bearcats even saw the batters’ box. UIndy sent 14 hitters to the plate in the top of the first inning, with GLVC Player of the Year Gianni Iannantone smacking a three-run homer near the end of the frame. Perry was instrumental during game two’s five-run fifth inning, as well, doubling home a pair of runs as UIndy finished with 16 on the scoreboard.
The title gives head coach Melissa Frost and the Greyhounds their third league tournament crown, adding to their 2012 and 2016 victories.
The 2021 NCAA DII Midwest Regional will be held on the campus of Grand Valley State University from May 19-21. The winner will then advance to the National Championship in Denver from May 27-31. UIndy has made DII national championship appearances, winning a game in each of the 2009 and 2015 final bracket.