NKU-Jacksonville State box score |
NKU-Mississippi State box score
STARKVILLE, Miss. –
Dee Dee Davis homered to provide a bright moment on an otherwise difficult day for the Northern Kentucky University softball team, which dropped both games on the opening day of the Bulldog Kickoff Classic, hosted by Mississippi State University.
The Norse dropped a 9-0 decision to Jacksonville State (Ala.) and fell to the host Bulldogs by a 12-1 score.
Friday's opening game saw Jacksonville State's Tiffany Harbin throw her fifth-career no-hitter, striking out 12 Norse batters en route to a 9-0 victory. The Gamecocks struck for eight runs in the first inning and never looked back. NKU's only base runner came in the fourth inning when
KC Straley was hit by a pitch to open the frame.
Ella Denes, Sara Borders and Stephanie Lewis each claimed two-hit games for the Gamecocks, who scored nine runs on nine hits. Cadi Oliver also drove in two runs without benefit of an at bat, one on a bases-loaded walk and another on a sacrifice fly.
The late game against Mississippi State saw the Bulldogs strike for two runs in each of the first two innings. In the fourth inning, Davis snapped a streak of 10 consecutive batters retired by MSU starter Alexis Silkwood with a solo home run to cut the Norse deficit to within three at 4-1. The Bulldogs answered emphatically in the bottom of the fourth, plating eight runs and putting the game out of reach for Northern Kentucky.
NKU (0-2) returns to action on Saturday seeking the team's first win of the season. The Norse will take on Mississippi Valley State at 11 a.m., followed by a rematch against Mississippi State at 1:30 p.m. Live stats, video and audio links will be available at nkunorse.com.
