Kaylin Steinmetz belts a two-run single in the third inning of Saturday's 5-3 loss to Saint Joseph's. Steinmetz finishes the season with 50 RBIs, tying the NKU single-season record.
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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Brittnie Boerema's tie-breaking RBI double in the sixth inning was enough to give the Saint Joseph's College softball team a 5-3 victory over Northern Kentucky in Game 2 of the NCAA Division II Midwest Super Regional.
Saint Joseph's (39-19) wins the regional championship in its first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament and advances to the NCAA Division II Championships, to be held May 16-19 in Louisville, Ky. The Pumas will face the East Region champion in first-round matchup.
Northern Kentucky ends its final season in Division II with a record of 38-21. The Norse will reclassify to NCAA Division I in July and will compete next season as full members of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Boerema had two hits, both doubles, in three at bats for the Pumas. The senior also scored two runs and drove in three more. Kristin Paris also had two hits for the Pumas, who managed five total hits off NKU pitcher
Emily Schwaeble (24-8).
NKU opened the scoring in the top of the third inning when Saint Joseph's pitcher Megan Ramey ran into control issues, walking the first two batters of the inning before surrendering a bunt single to
Jessica Farris to load the bases.
Mandi McQueen worked a seven-pitch at bat into a run-scoring walk before
Kaylin Steinmetz drove in two more runs with a bloop single into left-center field.
Boerema started the comeback rally for the Pumas in the fourth inning with a two-run double to score Stephanie Winter and Shawn Hoskins. After moving to third on a sacrifice, Boerema scored on Audra Rains' sacrifice fly to left field.
The Pumas plated two runs in the sixth to take the lead for good, opening with Boerema's double, which followed a three-base error on a ball hit by Shawn Hoskins. They got an insurance run when a bunt by Paris got under the glove of
Emily Schwaeble and, with the wheels turning on the sacrifice attempt, rolled all the way to the outfield grass, allowing Boerema to score from second base.
Sarah Franklin (17-8) got the win in relief for Saint Joseph's, giving up three hits and striking out four in five scoreless innings.
