KENNESAW, Ga. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team's seventh-inning rally against Dayton came up just short as the Norse fell, 3-1, to close out opening-day action at the Kennesaw State Kickoff Classic.
The Norse dropped their season opener to Tennessee Tech, 10-0, to open the day. NKU (0-2) will look for its first win of the season tomorrow, when they close out the tournament against Ohio (10 a.m.) and No. 13-ranked Tennessee (3 p.m.). Live stats links can be found at NKUNorse.com.
Kate Bartolovich reached on a fielding error to open the bottom of the seventh inning against Dayton. Nicollette Hayes followed up by reaching on another fielding error before
KC Straley brought home NKU's only run on an RBI-single down the left field line to plate Bartolovich, who went 2-for-5 on the day.
The Flyers (1-2) manufactured a run on three hits to open the scoring in the top of the first, with Tiffany Ricks' double scoring Natalie Mariano to make it 1-0. Dayton got a pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning off the bats of Katelyn Gibson and Katie Ryan, each with RBI base hits.
Ashlynn Roberts (0-1) went the distance in the circle for the Norse, giving up three runs on 10 hits and three walks. The win went to Kayla English, who tossed five innings of shutout ball, striking out five Norse batters.
Sydney Ferrante picked up a pair of hits, including a double, but the Norse failed to push across a run in a 10-0 loss to Tennessee Tech to open the 2015 season. Ferrante and
Katelyn Roy each picked up doubles in the contest for the Norse.
The Eagles (1-0) picked up nine hits and took advantage of six Norse errors to push across their 10 runs. Olivia Bennett went 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring one run and driving in another, as six other TTU batter each picked up a hit on the game. Tennessee Tech scored in each of its four times at bat, plating one run in the first inning and five in the second to put the game out of reach.
Hannah Weaver (1-0) got the win for Tennessee Tech, scattering six hits and walking one for the Eagles. The loss fell to
Alex Caudill (0-1), who gave up three earned runs on nine hits and struck out five in four innings.
The Norse will close out the Kennesaw State Kickoff Classic tomorrow with games against a pair of NCAA Tournament teams. NKU will take on Ohio at 10 a.m. before concluding the weekend with a 3 p.m. contest against No. 13 Tennessee. Fans can follow @NKUNorseGameDay for updates throughout the day.
