QUINCY — As the recruiting process began to evolve, Caitlin Bunte realized there was more to think about than just softball.

“I looked past that at first,” the Quincy Notre Dame softball star said. “I thought, ‘I want to play softball. I want to find a place where I can step in and play.’ I recently remembered that it’s temporary. I have five more years, but college had to play a bigger role.”

With that in mind, she set out to find a school and softball program that met both requirements.

The University of Indianapolis fits the profile.

The left-handed Bunte, a two-time All-State selection, announced her commitment over the weekend and made the announcement publicly on social media Monday. The Greyhounds are coming off an NCAA Division II national semifinal and had the D-II national pitcher of the year in Kenzee Smith.

Indianapolis finished 60-7 overall and 25-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Bunte watched the Greyhounds at the GLVC tournament in East Peoria, Ill., in early May and walked away impressed.

“I really enjoyed the environment,” Bunte said. “I enjoyed seeing their camaraderie. Their team bond was really great. When I visited, I enjoyed being there. The coaches are so nice and personable. I feel like I’m on the same page with them a lot. It just felt really good.”

Earlier, assistant coach Lori Vogel of QND had already told Bunte that a suitable university player would emerge.

“Vogel was trying to tell me you’ll just know,” Bunte said. “She said, ‘You go and it’s going to work out and it’s going to feel just right.’ UIndy was my first time going there and I was like, ‘I really love this place. I don’t know how it can get any better than this.’ I didn’t know going in that this was going to be the place I wanted to go.”

This past spring, Bunte was as good in the circle as she was at the plate. Over the course of 18 starts, 22 appearances and 128.2 innings, she went 16-3 with a 1.09 ERA and an 0.78 WHIP while striking out 221 batters and walking 14. Bunte also batted .518 with 16 doubles, two home runs and 32 runs scored.

She was selected to the state second team by the Illinois Coaches Association.

As a sophomore, Bunte led the Raiders to their first section championship since 2011 and a 24-5 record. Offensively, she batted .620 with a .675 on-base percentage and a 1.152 slugging percentage. She had 11 doubles, four triples, 10 home runs and 36 RBIs with 41 runs scored and only nine strikeouts in 114 plate appearances.

In the circle, Bunte started 16 games, pitched 129 ⅓ innings and posted a 16-5 record with a 1.95 ERA. She struck out 162 batters and walked 16, earning first-team all-state honors.

She will have the option to pitch or play at UIndy, it will come down to what the Greyhounds need and how hard she works.

That work ethic is beyond question. Where it fits is determined.

“I just go with the flow,” Bunte said.