Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Box score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Katelyn Roy and Alexis Van Horn each hit home runs for the Northern Kentucky University softball team, but the Norse came up on the short side of a 6-3 decision at Lipscomb in Atlantic Sun Conference play on Sunday.
 
With the loss, NKU fell to 4-41 on the year and 1-22 in A-Sun play. Lipscomb improved to 39-11 overall and 18-8 in the league.
 
The home runs were two of five hits the Norse managed off Lipscomb pitcher Heather Parker, who struck out six batters and walked three more in improving to 9-3 on the year. Alyssa Enrique (3-12) took the loss, striking out three batters.
 
Lipscomb got the scoring started early as Brittney Elmore dropped a bunt single to open the bottom of the first inning and quickly took second on a wild pitch. Cothron then worked a 3-2 count before dropping a single into the gap in right center field to bring in Elmore. Cothron later scored on a passed ball to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Roy answered quickly in the top of the second inning, working a nine-pitch at bat before taking Parker opposite field for her fourth home run of the year. Welch pushed the lead back to two runs in the bottom of the second inning with a home run of her own, her sixth of the season.
 
Lipscomb added two more runs in the third inning as Neely roped an RBI double off the wall in center field and M Cartwright followed up with a sacrifice fly to score Neely and push the advantage to 5-1.  A bases-loaded groundout in the sixth inning by K Cartwright scored Welch to make it a five-run game.
 
The Norse answered in the top of the seventh when Natalie Papi hit a one-out single to left field before Van Horn pulled her first home run of the year over the wall in left field. Rachel Kohlman drew a walk to keep the rally alive before KC Straley grounded into a double play to end the game.
 
The Norse return to action on Wednesday, April 30, as they welcome in-state rival Morehead State for a nonconference doubleheader. First pitch from the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field is scheduled for 2 p.m. NKU then concludes the 2014 season with a three-game conference series against Florida Gulf Coast. First pitch for Friday's doubleheader and Saturday's season finale are both set for noon.