Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Game 1 box score | Game 2 box score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Mandi McQueen and Kaylin Steinmetz provided the fireworks for the Northern Kentucky University softball team, each claiming walk-off hits in a doubleheader sweep of Ohio Dominican on Wednesday.

McQueen's RBI-triple in the eighth inning led the Norse (19-11) to a 6-5 win in Game 1, while Steinmetz hit a two-run home run to right field to give NKU a 4-2 victory in the nightcap.

The Norse were forced to come from behind in both contests, beginning in Game 1 after Ohio Dominican (12-12) scored a pair of runs in the second inning and one more in the third.  NKU clawed back into the game in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of RBI doubles from Emily Schwaeble and Katelyn Roy.  McQueen's first RBI of the day tied the game in the fourth inning when her single up the middle scored Dee Dee Davis, who started a two-out rally with a double.

The Panthers kept it interesting in the fifth inning, using an NKU fielding error to plate two more runs. NKU continued to answer, plating one more on Allie Conner's RBI single and tying the game once more when Roy scored on a passed ball.
Stellar defense in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings by the NKU infield set up McQueen's dramatics in the bottom of the eighth.  Davis set the table with a one-out single before McQueen laced a triple past the outstretched glove of Panther centerfielder Erin Sutter for the game winner.

Schwaeble (14-3) got the victory in the circle, striking out nine batters in the victory.  Steinmetz and Roy each had 3-4 days as the Norse pounded out 11 hits.

The nightcap saw ODU jump out to a lead once more with a two-run fourth inning.  NKU would not be denied, picking up a run on Natalie Papi's RBI single in the fourth and Conner's sacrifice fly in the sixth.

After McQueen took a pitch in the hip to take first base in the seventh inning, Steinmetz became the hero, lifting a an 0-2 pitch high into the jet stream in right field, where the wind carried the ball over the wall for another walk-off.

Jessica Farris and Papi each had two hits for the Norse in the game, while Alex Caudill (5-7) got the win in the circle, scattering seven hits and striking out two.

The wins snap a three-game losing streak for the Norse and give the team some momentum on the cusp of a six-game road trip.  The conference swing opens on Saturday at Wisconsin-Parkside.