NKU-TTU box score |
NKU-Toledo box score
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Northern Kentucky University softball team picked up its first win as a Division I program on Friday, defeating Toledo by a score of 6-2 in Day 1 action at the Frost Classic.
Dee Dee Davis, who was 2-for-3 on the day, bookended the scoring for the Norse (1-5), opening things up in the second inning with an infield single. After moving to second on a bunt single by
Michelle Carson and third on an
Alexis VanHorn fielder's choice, Davis got caught in a rundown off the bag at third. However, the Toledo throw back to the plate was errant, allowing Davis to score. After a walk to
Mandi McQueen, who drew three free passes and stole two bases on the day,
Kaylin Steinmetz padded the lead with a two-run double off the wall in center field.
The Rockets (0-1) answered in the bottom half of the inning, pulling back a pair of runs after an RBI single by Marla Gooding and a successful squeeze bunt by Alyssa Smith.
Katelyn Roy came back for NKU, punctuating her two-hit day by a towering home run over the left-field wall in the third inning, her second of the season, to stretch the Norse lead to 4-2.
Davis closed out the scoring for the Norse in the seventh after back-to-back singles by
Natalie Papi and Roy, shooting a triple into the gap in left-center field to plate a pair of runs.
Kelley Benhase (1-2) settled things down for the Norse after Toledo's scoring inning in the second, allowing just three more hits going forward and retiring the final 10 Rocket batters to get the win in the circle. Benhase scattered six hits and surrendered just two unearned runs while striking out four in NKU's first complete-game performance of the year.
The win helped take the sting out of an 8-0 loss to Tennessee Tech earlier in the day.
NKU returns to action on Day 2 of the Frost Classic, facing North Carolina Central and Eastern Kentucky. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 11 a.m.
