EAST PEORIA, Ill. - The Northern Kentucky University softball team began play at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament on Friday by winning twice, and the sixth-seeded Norse are two victories away from taking their first GLVC title since 2005.
NKU opened the GLVC Tournament with a 5-4 victory against No. 3 seed Indianapolis, and the Norse later knocked off No. 2 seed Quincy, 4-3. NKU improved to 29-21 and will meet Lewis (37-16) at 4 p.m. Saturday in the winner's bracket.
The NKU/Lewis winner advances to Sunday's championship round.
Shatona Campbell hit a three-run home run to highlight NKU's win against Indianapolis. The Norse took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, but Indianapolis rallied for four runs and had the tying run on second base with one out.
Jamie Keltz then hit a liner that third baseman
Cara Parker snatched with a leaping grab. She doubled up Cathryn Sampson, who had strayed too far off second base, for the game's final out.
In the win over Quincy, NKU plated three runs in the fifth inning to wipe out a 3-1 deficit and held on. Quincy made a pair of errors during NKU's three-run outburst in the fifth.
April Ehlers relieved starter
Chelsie Roy and limited Quincy to just one hit in five innings. Ehlers, who also notched the win against Indianapolis, struck out nine Quincy batters and improved to 16-12.
