Box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team had its chances, but failed to cash in on two bases-loaded opportunities en route to an 11-2 loss to North Florida, closing out the three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series between the teams.
The loss drops NKU to 3-21 overall and 1-8 in A-Sun play as the Norse hit the road for nonconference play against Butler on Wednesday.
After a leadoff groundout in the top of the first inning, the Ospreys got four hits from the next five batters to stake an early 4-0 lead and spell a quick end for NKU starting pitcher
Alex Caudill. The Norse came back in the bottom of the frame to score a run of their own, as
KC Straley beat out an infield single back to the pitcher, stole second base and came in to score on
Katelyn Roy's infield single.
NKU had a chance to tie the game in the second inning as
Michelle Carson, Alexis Van Horn and Straley each claimed hits to load the bases with two outs, but
Dee Dee Davis' shot to the right side was gobbled up by North Florida second baseman Katie Mandigo to end the threat.
North Florida added two more runs in the fourth inning on a Marissa Thomas bases-loaded two-run single, making it a 6-1 ball game. Again, the Norse scratched across a run, this time on Davis' RBI single to centerfield, plating Van Horn, who doubled with one out.
Pinch hitter Ashley Schofill pushed the Ospreys' advantage back to five runs with her first hit and first RBI of the season, a single up the middle to score Mariah Reynolds to put the score at 7-2 in the top of the fifth inning. Again, the Norse responded with a two-out rally in the bottom of the frame as
Dani Devlin,
Mandi McQueen and Carson strung together three singles to load the bases and knock North Florida starter Cortney Radke out of the ball game. The Ospreys turned to Kaylie Wallace, who turned Van Horn away on a strikeout to again leave the bases loaded for the Norse.
North Florida would add one run in the sixth inning on an Ashia Kerr RBI triple and three more in the seventh to push to the 11-2 final score.
The Norse were able to outhit the Ospreys, 12-10, but stranded 12 runners on the bases over the course of the game to stall out NKU's comeback attempts. Four Norse posted multi-hit games, with Straley and Devlin each going 2-for-2 on the day. For North Florida, Thomas was 2-for-4 with four RBIs to lead the offense.
Radke got the win in the circle for the Ospreys, scattering 11 hits and allowing two runs in 4.2 innings of work to improve to 8-3 on the year, taking all three decisions in the weekend series. Wallace picked up her first save of the season, striking out four Norse and allowing just one hit in 2.1 innings of relief.
Alyssa Enrique struck out four batters in 5.2 innings of relief for the Norse while Caudill took the loss, falling to 0-12 on the year.
