Ashley Gates smashed a two-run home run, the 23rd of her career, to lift NKU to a 5-4 win over Edinboro.
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KISSIMMEE, Fla. –
Ashley Gates smashed a two-run homer to dead-center field to give the Northern Kentucky University softball team a 5-4 victory over Edinboro in Day 1 action at the Rebel Spring Games.
The home run, her first of the year, was the exclamation point of a back-and-forth contest that saw the Norse fall behind in the fourth inning when a couple of errors allowed Edinboro (0-2) to plate an unearned run. The Norse would get that run back in the sixth inning when
Jessica Farris scored on a throwing error to even the score.
The Scots came back in the bottom of the sixth inning on the back of a two-run single from Ashley Black.
The top of the seventh inning saw the Norse draw level once more when
Dee Dee Davis smoked a ball past the Edinboro second baseman and all the way to the wall for an RBI-triple.
Farris followed up with an RBI-double to plate Davis and tie the game up and set the state for Gates' blast.
Emily Schwaeble (1-1) got the win, pitching 2 2/3 innings of work while striking out one.
Chelsie Roy struck out three without walking a batter in the start.
The win helped take some of the sting out of a 4-2 loss to Saginaw Valley in the opener.
The Cardinals (1-0) scored two runs in the first inning and one more in the second to set the tone, while pitcher Jade Fulton struck out seven batters to keep pace.
The Norse rallied late, plating runs on a
Natalie Papi RBI-triple and an
April Ehlers bunt single to plate Papi.
Farris gave the Norse life in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out single, but the Norse couldn't take advantage.
Ehlers (1-3) took the loss, striking out seven in seven innings while surrendering just two earned runs.
NKU, now 3-5 on the season, returns to action tomorrow to face Fayetteville State and Wheeling Jesuit.
