Northern Kentucky University Athletics

NKU-CUP box score | NKU-FSU box score

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – April Ehlers did it all for the Northern Kentucky University softball team, driving in the game-winning run in a 6-5, extra-inning win over California (Pa.) before coming back to no-hit Ferris State, 3-0, on Day 4 of the Rebel Spring Games.

The wins pushed NKU to 7-7 on the season.

It was all Ehlers against Ferris State. The senior needed little more than the two-run lead the Norse gave her in the bottom of the first, as Emily Schwaeble and Ashley Gates each drove in runs to give NKU the early lead.

The game turned into a pitchers' duel, after matching walks in the second inning, Ehlers and FSU pitcher Dana Bowler sat down the next 21 batters through the top of the sixth inning.

Ehlers gave herself an insurance run in the sixth, slapping a single through the left side to score Alesa Collinsworth, who was brought on as a pinch hitter for Natalie Papi. Ehlers retired the Bulldogs (3-4) in the top of the seventh to complete the no-no.

Ehlers (4-4) struck out 14 batters and was just two walks shy of a perfect game. It was her second career no-hitter, the other coming in an 8-0 win over Drury on March 22, 2009.

The opener against California was a back-and-forth affair, with the Vulcans scoring runs in the first and second innings to stake and early lead before Mandi McQueen responded in the top of the third with a two-run single to score Dee Dee Davis and Jessica Farris to tie the game for the Norse.

The Vulcans returned to score a run each in the fifth and sixth innings to claim another two-run lead before the Norse cobbled together a two-out rally starting with another Davis single. Farris and McQueen each followed with RBI-doubles to tie the game before Papi rolled a single through the left side to score McQueen from second base and give the Norse their first lead of the day.

California wasn't done, however, as they managed to push across a run in the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

Despite the international tie breaker being in effect, neither team could push across a run in the eighth or ninth innings. It wasn't until the 10th inning when Ehlers, who was brought on to close the game, lifted a fly ball to left field for the second out, but allowed McQueen to score from third base to put the Norse back ahead.

Ehlers came back to retire the side in the bottom half of the frame to pick up the win in relief.

The top three hitters in the lineup – Farris, McQueen and Papi – combined to go 7-for-13 with four doubles, five RBIs and four runs scored. Gates was 2-for-3 and Davis went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the victory.

NKU closes out play in the Rebel Spring Games on Thursday afternoon against St. Cloud State and Northwood (Mich.).