Game 1 box score |
Game 2 box score
DELAND, Fla. –
Emily Schwaeble made the difference in the circle and at the plate as the Northern Kentucky University softball team claimed its first-ever Atlantic Sun Conference victory on Friday, defeating Stetson, 3-1.
Schwaeble carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and ended the game with a season-high 14 strikeouts, just one off her career high, while allowing just two hits and surrendering an unearned run to improve her pitching record to 2-11 on the year.
The senior also clubbed her 31
st-career home run in the fourth inning to tie Ashley Gates for the program record in the category. It was her only hit in her only official at bat as she also reached base via a walk and a hit by pitch.
That hit by pitch helped the Norse (7-22, 1-10 A-Sun) open the scoring in the second inning when Schwaeble was dotted to lead off the frame. Back-to-back errors by the Hatters (19-13, 2-6 A-Sun) allowed Schwaeble to come around to score.
Schwaeble struck out eight of the first nine batters she faced to help protect the Norse lead until her fourth-inning homer gave the Norse some distance.
Kaylin Steinmetz, returning to the lineup for the first time since March 2, followed with an infield single and came in on an
Alexis VanHorn double.
A double by Kayla Drury in the bottom of the sixth spoiled Schwaeble's no-hit bid, and the shutout was gone two batters later after Chrissy Morello reached on a Norse throwing error, allowing Drury to score. A single and a walk in the bottom of the seventh gave the Hatters a chance with the winning run at the plate and one out, but back-to-back strikeouts sealed victory for the Norse.
The win helped soften the blow of an 8-0 defeat in Game 2. Meredith Owen's two-run home run opened the scoring in the second inning, and Morello followed up with a two-run single as the Hatters jumped out to an early lead.
Stetson continued to pour on the offense, scoring two runs each in the third and fourth innings. The Norse could muster just two hits in the contest, back-to-back singles by
Mandi McQueen and
Dee Dee Davis in the first inning.
NKU and Stetson will meet in the rubber game of the three-game league series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for noon.
