Emily Schwaeble (21) celebrates with her teammates as she approaches home plate after her second grand slam in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader sweep over Cedarville.
Game 1 box score |
Game 2 box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –
Emily Schwaeble hit three home runs and had nine RBIs to lead the Northern Kentucky University softball team to a pair of run-rule victories over Cedarville to close out the home half of the 2012 season on Thursday afternoon.
The Norse improved to 30-16 on the season with scores of 8-0 and 11-3, each in five innings.
Four of Schwaeble's five hits in the twinbill went for extra bases, including a pair of grand slams that the junior hit in Game 2. It marked Schwaeble's first multi-homer game of her career and the second for a Norse player this season.
Kaylin Steinmetz, who hit her 18th home run of the season today, hit a pair of home runs in an 8-4 win over Maryville on March 4.
Natalie Papi and
Michelle Carson also had five hits each in the doubleheader as the Norse combined to pound out 24 hits on the day.
Back-to-back doubles by Carson and
Jessica Farris capped a three-run fifth inning in Game 1 and ended the contest for the Norse.
Alex Caudill (12-10) spun a five-hit shutout, her third of the season.
A two-out error in the fourth inning of Game 2 proved costly for the Yellow Jackets (27-18), who had tied the game an inning earlier on a Kelsey Wilson RBI-single. The misplay allowed
Jessica Farris to reach base safely and a walk to Steinmetz loaded the bases for Schwaeble's first grand slam, which hooked around the fair pole in left field. Papi also drove a run in with a double to left center.
Cedarville came back with two runs in the top of the fifth inning, but again an error extended the inning and a walk to Steinmetz again loaded the bases for Schwaeble, who sent a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left center. Again, Papi put a bow on the inning with an RBI single to end the game.
Caudill also picked up the win in the nightcap, giving up three runs on six hits and striking out two.
Rachel Kohlman picked up her second save of the season when she entered in the fifth inning with the potential tying run on deck and finished the game after retiring one batter.
The Norse have now won seven of their last eight games, a run of much needed momentum entering the final weekend of Great Lakes Valley Conference play. Every win will be key for the Norse in doubleheaders against East division front runners Indianapolis and Saint Joseph's.
