NKU assistant coach Chip Gregg (left) congratulates Natalie Papi after one of her two hits in NKU's 8-0 loss to Indianapolis.
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EAST PEORIA, Ill. – The University of Indianapolis softball team used a pair of four-run innings to defeat Northern Kentucky University, 8-0, in the second round of the GLVC Tournament on Friday.
Natalie Papi had two of NKU's four hits in the loss, which drops the Norse (34-18) to the elimination bracket of the tournament.
Emily Schwaeble (21-6) took the loss in the circle, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out five batters.
Indianapolis (47-7), which entered the weekend ranked No. 4 in the NCAA Division II national poll, advances to the winners' bracket final to take on Lewis at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Run-scoring doubles by Casey Williamson and Brianna Clark set the tone for the Greyhounds in the first inning. Cory Eckerle added an RBI single to push the edge to 4-0 after the first inning.
The Norse got a leadoff single from
Natalie Papi in the second, but couldn't advance the runner.
NKU got a chance again in the fourth inning on
Emily Schwaeble's leadoff single, but the junior was taken off the base path on a well-turned double play by the Indianapolis defense on
Mandi McQueen's ground ball.
Papi and
Kari Lang got back-to-back singles to put a runner in scoring position, but were stranded to end the inning.
Indianapolis would end it in run-rule fashion in the fifth inning on Kesley Rummel's RBI single to cap another four-run frame for the Greyhounds.
NKU will take on Bellarmine at noon Eastern in an elimination game. The Norse will have to win three games on Saturday to win the right to challenge for its third GLVC championship.
