Gretchen Lorenz was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles in NKU's 3-2 win over Shippensburg on Wednesday.
NKU-SU box score |
NKU-SCSU box score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Close games were the order of the day as the Northern Kentucky University softball team picked up a pair of one-run victories in Day 3 action at the Rebel Spring Games.
The Norse needed nine innings to defeat Shippensburg, 3-2, in the opener before picking up a 4-3 win over St. Cloud State in Game 2. NKU improves to 8-6 on the season with the wins.
Gretchen Lorenz was the offensive star for the Norse, going 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles and an RBI in the twin bill.
April Ehlers (5-4) got the win in Game 1 and earned her first save of the season in Game 2.
Lorenz's first double of the day put the Norse on the board against Shippensburg, scoring
Ashley Gates, who walked to open the second inning. Shippensburg got the run back in the fourth inning on an RBI-single from Abby Block.
The pitchers held the 1-1 score through seven innings, forcing the international tiebreaker, where a Jill Mullan sacrifice fly plated a run for the Raiders in the top of the eighth. The Norse returned the favor in the bottom of the inning when
Alesa Collinsworth scored on a
Jamie Raabe single.
After the Norse held Shippensburg scoreless in the top of the ninth, It was
Jessica Farris scoring on a Gates sacrifice fly to end the game.
Ehlers gave up just two hits and one earned run while striking out eight batters in nine innings of work.
Emily Schwaeble got the offense going for NKU in Game 2, slicing a two-run double down the left field line in the top of the first inning.
Rose Broderick followed up in the second inning with an RBI-groundout to extend the lead to 3-0.
Stephanie West drove in a run in the top of the fourth inning and the Norse appeared to be cruising until the Huskies stormed back in the fifth inning, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring three runs on four hits.
The Norse bore down and got out of the inning, retiring the final six Husky batters to take the win.
Chelsie Roy (2-2) got the victory in the circle, going four strong innings allowing three runs on four hits with five strikeouts. West added a 2-for-4 performance at the plate.
NKU wraps up play at the Rebel Spring Games on Thursday against Saginaw Valley State and Lock Haven.
