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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team celebrated its seniors on Saturday, but could not deliver a victory in the 2013 season finale as Lipscomb took a 4-3 decision in bizarre fashion.
Lipscomb (32-22, 18-8 A-Sun) plated the winning run in the top of the seventh inning. With runners on second and third, NKU pitcher
Emily Schwaeble was charged with an illegal pitch to force in Brittany Elmore for the eventual game-winning run.
The result marred what was an otherwise strong performance from the senior, who allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out 11 Lady Bison batters. It marked the fifth time this season that Schwaeble has fanned 10 or more batters in a game.
NKU (11-41, 5-22 A-Sun) got six hits from six different batters, including one from
Dee Dee Davis, who hit safely in 18 of her final 21 games of the season.
The Norse opened the scoring in the second inning. After
Alexis VanHorn was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame,
Kaylin Steinmetz went opposite field for a two-run home run, her fifth of the season.
Lipscomb came right back in the top of the third inning, scoring runs on a suicide squeeze from Bridgette Begle and an RBI single by Gracey Aguirre, who had two of the Lady Bisons' seven hits. Controversy then struck in the fourth inning for Lipscomb after Haley Elliott hit what appeared to be her eighth home run of the season. However, she was ruled out on appeal after she was ruled to have missed first base. Bree Thurmann then followed with a solo home run to stake a 3-2 lead for the Lady Bisons.
NKU tied the game without benefit of a hit in the bottom of the fourth inning when three walks and a hit batter scored
Mandi McQueen to level the score at 3-3 before Lipscomb's rally in the seventh inning.
