Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Game 1 box score | Game 2 box score

OWENSBORO, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team swept a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader from Kentucky Wesleyan on Wednesday, winning the opener 6-0 and taking the nightcap by a 14-1 score.

April Ehlers tossed a six-hit shutout in the opener for NKU, which is 26-13 overall, 16-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Ehlers struck out 10 batters and recorded her 11th win of the season.

Jessica Farris, Stephanie West and Katie Sullivan collected two hits apiece in the opener for NKU. Farris and Rose Broderick each scored twice, while Ashley Gates drove in a pair of runs.

NKU completed the sweep in the nightcap by pounding three home runs during a 14-1 victory. Gates, Broderick and Emily Schwaeble all slugged homers for the Norse, who scored six times in both the first and third innings.

Broderick ignited the offense by blasting a three-run homer in the first inning, her fourth of the season. It was also the 20th career home run for Broderick, who is NKU's all-time leader in that category.

Two batters later, Gates launched her team-leading seventh home run of the season. Gates now has 19 career homers and is No. 2 in school history.

Schwaeble's three-run homer highlighted the six-run outburst in the third inning.

Rachael May scored three runs for NKU, and Sam Del Vecchio was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Norse pitcher Chelsie Roy allowed just one hit in the five-inning victory and picked up her ninth win of the season.

Sullivan added two RBIs for NKU, which is ranked seventh in the latest NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll.

The Norse continue the road trip this weekend with doubleheaders at Wisconsin-Parkside (Saturday) and Lewis (Sunday).


NCAA Division II Midwest Region poll
1. Wayne State (Mich.)
2. Ashland
3. Saginaw Valley State
4. Lewis
5. Indianapolis
6. Quincy
7. Northern Kentucky
8. Tiffin
9. Northwood (Mich.)