NKU softball rolls to 11-3 win over Lewis in opener, drops 4-3 decision to Flyers in Game 2
Natalie Papi (25) is greeted after her walk-off home run against Lewis.

NKU softball rolls to 11-3 win over Lewis in opener, drops 4-3 decision to Flyers in Game 2

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Photo gallery | Game 1 box score | Game 2 box score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Ashley Gates and Natalie Papi both hit home runs Saturday as the Northern Kentucky University softball team cruised to an 11-3 victory over Lewis in the first game of a doubleheader.

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Lewis, however, salvaged a split by pulling out a 4-3 win in nine innings in the nightcap. NKU is now 28-13 overall, 18-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Lewis maintained its one-half game lead over NKU and Missouri-St. Louis in the GLVC standings with the split. The Flyers are 29-10 overall, 18-4 in the GLVC.

Gates blasted a three-run homer to left-center field in the first inning to give NKU a 3-0 lead in Game 1. It was the ninth home run of the season for Gates, who is NKU's all-time career leader with 31 homers.

The Norse added four more runs in the second inning to build a commanding 7-0 advantage. Emily Schwaeble lined a two-run double to key the second-inning outburst.

After Lewis scored three times in the top of the sixth inning to cut the NKU lead to 7-3, the Norse went back to work offensively and scored four times to win by the eight-run mercy rule. Papi ended the game by launching a two-run homer over the fence in left-center field. It was Papi's third home run of the season.

NKU pitcher April Ehlers (13-6) scattered six hits and finished with eight strikeouts.

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In the nightcap, Lewis snapped a 3-all tie by plating the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning. Alyssa Moseley's run-scoring double in the ninth provided Lewis with its winning margin.

NKU forced extra innings by scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh. Jessica Farris led off with a single, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Dee Dee Davis and took third base on a wild pitch. Farris then scored when Lewis' Karissa Habel uncorked her second wild pitch of the inning to tie the game at 3-all.

NKU loaded the bases with one out and had two chances to win later in the seventh, but the Norse were unable to push across a run.

NKU begins play in the GLVC Tournament on Friday at East Peoria, Ill. The Norse will learn Sunday where they will be seeded for that event.

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