NKU senior softball players and their families were recognized Sunday afternoon.
Photo gallery |
Game 1 box score |
Game 2 box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –
Ashley Gates and
Rose Broderick clubbed home runs as the Northern Kentucky University softball team cruised to a 6-1 win over Saint Joseph's in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday.
Chelsie Roy (8-3) scattered five hits and picked up the win for NKU, which bounced back from a 3-2 loss to Saint Joseph's in the opener. The Norse improved to 24-13 overall, 14-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
After Saint Joseph's (24-17 overall, 9-11 GLVC) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning of the nightcap, NKU responded quickly in the bottom half of the stanza.
Emily Schwaeble led off with a double to right-center field, bringing Gates to the plate.
Gates launched a 1-1 delivery from pitcher Rachel Weaver over the left-center field wall to give NKU a 2-1 lead. It was the sixth home run of the season for Gates and allowed her to temporarily tie Broderick for the NKU career record of 18 homers.
One inning later, Broderick blasted her 19th career home run over the left-field fence to extend NKU's lead to 4-1. Broderick, a senior second baseman, now has three homers this season. Broderick was 2-for-3 and scored twice in the second game.
Jessica Farris went 2-for-4 in the nightcap, while teammate
Gretchen Lorenz was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Schwaeble scored a pair of runs for NKU.
In the opener, Saint Joseph's held on for a 3-2 win against NKU. Gates,
Stephanie West and
Katie Sullivan all had two hits for the Norse. West doubled in Sullivan with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to pull NKU within 3-2, but Broderick's fly ball in foul ground was caught by left-fielder Samantha Swenson to end the game.
Broderick, West,
Sam Del Vecchio and student assistant coach Karen Simmons were recognized with their families as part of Senior Day festivities between games.
NKU begins a six-game road trip Wednesday with a GLVC doubleheader at Kentucky Wesleyan. The Norse continue on the road next weekend with doubleheaders at Wisconsin-Parkside (Saturday) and Lewis (Sunday).
