UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The UIndy softball team wrapped up its 2025 season on Friday afternoon, falling to No. 20 Saginaw Valley at the NCAA DII Midwest Super Regional. The Greyhounds won the opener Friday morning, 9-0, to force a grudge match, but the host Cardinals bounced back with a 6-5 win to advance to the NCAA DII Championship next week.
UIndy capped a memorable season with a GLVC title and another deep postseason run. In their Midwest-best 17th straight regional appearance, the young Hounds came one win shy of their second consecutive World Series trip.
INS & OUTS
The Greyhounds sprinted out to a first-inning lead for the second game in a row. After the Cardinals won the coin toss, UIndy batted first and cashed in out of the gate on a two-run single by Josie Jager. The rally featured a single from leadoff hitter Brooklyn Willis, giving her a school record 85 hits on the year.
The Hounds lit up the scoreboard again in the third, this time with a mini home run derby. Both Jager and Shelby Cook cleared the right field fence, plating a total of three runs to make it 5-0 Hounds.
But the Cardinals bats finally got going in the bottom half of the third. They trimmed the margin and broke an 11-inning scoreless streak with two tallies. Two more Cards crossed in the fifth, cutting the lead to one while forcing a pitching change.
Back-to-back solo shots from Saginaw Valley started the bottom of the sixth, giving the home team their first lead of the day and ultimately the win.
GAME 1
Face to face with elimination, UIndy came out swinging, generating six big runs in the first inning to set the tone. A hit by pitch and back-to-back singles put the Cardinals on the back foot right away, with an error and two wild pitches sending them reeling.
An RBI groundout from Maya Rodriguez and a two-run double from Shelby Cook followed, making it 6-0 Hounds and chasing all-region pitcher Aalana Kimble after just a 1/3 of an inning.
Conversely, UIndy starter Cheyenne Eads (26-12) had no problem avoiding trouble, as the GLVC Freshman of the Year finished with a one-hit shutout. The Shelbyville, Ind., native retired the final eight batters on the way to the win, fanning four and walking only two.
The Hounds weren't done offensively, as senior Jocelyn Calvin provided a highlight to her already-decorated career. With two on and two out in the bottom of the fourth, the veteran infielder sent a missile to center field, clearing the fence for a three-run blast and an eventually run-rule win. The homer was Calvin's first in 23 career NCAA Tournament games played.