Emily Schwaeble connects for a home run against Bellarmine.
Box score
EAST PEORIA, Ill. – Pitching ruled the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, and Northern Kentucky University received plenty of effective work in the circle during a 4-0 victory against Bellarmine.
Senior pitcher
Chelsie Roy (12-3) allowed just two hits and earned the shutout against Bellarmine in Friday's opener. Roy finished with three strikeouts and worked out of a two-on, none-out jam in the top of the sixth inning to keep the game scoreless.
NKU then took advantage of a two-out Bellarmine error to score four unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth. Bellarmine pitcher Casey Willard retired the first two batters in the sixth inning, but
Jessica Farris reached on an error, stole second and scored when
Dee Dee Davis singled to left.
Ashley Gates followed with a run-scoring single to drive in Davis, who had advanced to third on a throwing error.
Emily Schwaeble then blasted a two-run homer to left-center field, giving NKU a 4-0 lead.
It was the eighth home run of the season for Schwaeble, a sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio.
NKU improved to 29-13 overall. The Norse are the No. 3 seed in the GLVC Tournament. Bellarmine, the No. 6 seed, is 27-16 overall.
NKU plays No. 2 seed Lewis at 5 p.m. in a winner's bracket game. The double-elimination event continues through Sunday with the winner receiving an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
