Northern Kentucky University Athletics

NKU-SVSU box score | NKU-CSP box score

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Northern Kentucky University's April Ehlers had a stellar day in the circle but came away with a pair of hard-luck losses in Day 1 action at the Rebel Spring Games.

Ehlers struck out 14 batters in a 2-0 loss to Saginaw Valley before pitching two innings of relief in a 3-2 loss to Concordia-St. Paul. The losses dropped NKU to 4-6 on the season.

It was a pitcher's dual in Game 1, with SVSU's Jade Fulton going stride-for-stride and strikeout-for-strikeout with Ehlers throughout the contest.

The Cardinals, ranked No. 13 in the NCAA Division II national poll, struck in the top of the first inning when Ashley Jordan doubled home Lauren Memmer for the early advantage.

Ehlers continued to pitch out of jam after jam, leaving the bases full of Cardinals in the second and seventh frames.

NKU's best chance came in the second inning, when Emily Schwaeble singled up the middle to lead off the stanza. After Ehlers popped up on a sacrifice bunt attempt, Schwaeble got to second when the Cardinals sailed the double-play attempt into right field. A wild pitch got the freshman to third base, where she would be stranded after Fulton bore down and picked up a pair of strikeouts.

Rose Broderick added a double in the sixth inning.

Ehlers finished the game with 14 strikeouts, allowing eight hits and two runs in seven innings of work. Fulton picked up 15 strikeouts for Saginaw Valley.

Game 2 started hopefully for the Norse, with a Jessica Farris walk and a Broderick single, taking an additional base on the throw in, quickly putting runners on second and third in the top of the first inning. An illegal pitch then plated NKU's first run of the day.

A walk to Ashley Gates and a Schwaeble single put the Norse in business again in the fourth inning, allowing Ehlers to bring a run in on a misplayed grounder to second, scoring Gates to give NKU a 2-0 lead.

It all evaporated in the sixth inning, however, when an RBI-double to left and an illegal pitch gave the Golden Bears a pair of runs and evened the score. Concordia would win the game in extra innings, holding NKU scoreless in the top of the eighth inning before scoring on a Cali Brennan RBI-single in the bottom half to end the game.

Chelsie Roy got the start and gave up six hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings, striking out two in the process. Ehlers (3-4) took the loss in relief, allowing an unearned run on one hit with four strikeouts in two innings.

NKU returns to action on Tuesday, facing Clarion and No. 15 California (Pa.).