Northern Kentucky University Athletics

NKU-Barry box score | NKU-UNA box score

DECATUR, Ala. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team saw its weekend at the Charger Chillout end on a sour note as the team dropped a pair of games in Day 3 action.

NKU (2-4) fell to Barry, 8-2, before closing out play with a 3-1 loss to North Alabama.

The Norse battled in Game 1, trading runs with the Buccaneers in the fourth inning. After Brianna Smith led off the top of the inning with a triple and scored on a Cassy Zamora squeeze bunt, the Norse picked up a pair of runs to take the lead in the bottom half of the frame on RBI hits from Ashley Gates and Emily Schwaeble.

The NKU lead was short-lived, though, as Barry plated three runs in the fifth inning to retake the lead and scored three more in the sixth to gain a measure of insurance.

Jessica Farris led the Norse offense with a 3-for-4 game while Chelsie Roy (0-2) took the loss in the circle, striking out five batters in six innings of work. Schwaeble made her NKU pitching debut as well, striking out one Buccaneer in the seventh inning.

Game 2 saw the opposition take the early lead once again, this time in the second inning, as Ally Pridmore slapped a single into left center to score two runs for North Alabama.

Schwaeble came through with another RBI for the Norse in the sixth inning, lifting a Laurin Watts pitch into center field to score April Ehlers and cut the deficit to one.

The Lions, however, would get that insurance run back in the seventh, loading the bases before Maggi Eades took a 3-1 pitch into center field to score Pridmore and reach the final score.

Ehlers had another solid pitching performance, giving up two earned runs on five hits while striking out six in seven innings. Schwable's 2-for-3 performance at the plate highlighted the Norse offense.

NKU takes a long break before returning to action on March 5 for the Great Lakes Valley Conference and home opener against Rockhurst. The doubleheader is scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch.