NKU-CMU box score |
NKU-Louisville box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team struggled on Day 1 of the Cardinal Classic, losing both of its games on the day. The Norse fell to Central Michigan, 12-2, before dropping an 11-2 decision to the host Louisville.
NKU (1-6) will look to rebound on Day 2 of the tournament, taking on IUPUI for a 12:30 p.m. first pitch.
Central Michigan fired on all cylinders offensively, scoring multiple runs in each of the game's first three innings. Evelyn Lorimer went 3-for-3 and was a double short of the cycle. The Chippewas' leadoff hitter scored three runs and drove in four, as she was one of three CMU batters to post multi-hit days.
A three-run home run by CarolAnn Sexauer capped off a four-run first for the Chippewas, who came right back out for two more in the second inning. Evelyn Lorimer's RBI-triple started the scoring in the second, and a sacrifice fly by Kristen Kuhlman extended the lead to 6-0.
CMU would go on to make it a 9-0 advantage after four innings before
Dee Dee Davis put the Norse on the board with a two-run double, scoring
Mandi McQueen, who drew two walks in the contest, and
KC Straley, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
Lormier ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run home run to make it 12-2 and invoke the eight-run rule.
In the late game against Louisville, NKU struck for the first run in the top of the first when Straley drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on a single by Alexis Van Horn to give the Norse an early advantage.
The lead was short lived, as Louisville sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning, striking five singles and plating four runs to take over the game. The Cardinals added a run in the second inning and four more in the third before NKU came back with an answer in the top of the fourth frame.
A one-out walk to Van Horn preceded a double by
Katelyn Roy, putting two runners in scoring position. Van Horn would then score on a wild pitch, cutting the Louisville advantage to 9-2.
The Cardinals closed out the game in the fifth inning, as Maggie Ruckenbrod provided the walk-off hit, a two-out, two-run double.
The Norse managed three hits in each game, including three doubles on the day.
Alex Caudill (0-4) took the loss in the circle for NKU in both contests.
