MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Northern Kentucky softball split a Saturday-afternoon doubleheader at Alabama State, dropping the opening game, 8-2, before rallying to a 10-9 extra-inning victory in the second outing. The Norse moved to 2-12 on the season, while Alabama State now sits at 6-18.
Extra-base hits were the name of the game for NKU, which connected on two homers and six doubles on the day.
The two teams will close the series with Sunday afternoon's 2 p.m., showdown in Montgomery, Alabama.
Game No. 1The Norse used the long-ball to score a pair of runs against the Lady Hornets, but two big innings from Alabama State proved to be the difference.
ASU scored four runs on four hits in the second, using an RBI single from Jazzmin Romero and a three-run double by Valerie Centeno.
Two innings later, the Lady Hornets expanded their lead on Kendall Core's single that plated two Lady Hornets. Aleesa Yanez followed with a single up the middle to tally the third and final ASU run of the inning to put NKU behind, 7-0.
However, Northern Kentucky refused to back down. In the fifth inning, Kate Barolovich took an 0-2 pitch and launched it to centerfield for her second home run of the season.
After Alabama State got the run back in the bottom half of the fifth, NKU responded with yet another long-ball in its next at-bat.
Dani Devlin struck for her team-leading fourth home run of the season to cut into NKU's deficit and pull within six, 8-2.
Melissa Christman earned the win for Alabama State, improving to 3-5 on the season.
Ashlynn Roberts suffered the setback and dropped to 1-5.
Game No. 2NKU wasted no time getting on the board to start the second game.
Sydney Ferrante drew a walk to open the inning. Devlin followed with a single up the middle and Ferrante scored on
Katelyn Roy's RBI fly-out to push the Norse ahead, 1-0.
Two more runs crossed the plate for Northern Kentucky in the second to extend its lead to three.
Nicolette Hayes connected on an infield single, which was misplayed by the shortstop and allowed Bartolivich, who doubled to start the inning, come home from second. Hayes later scored on an
Alina Maher RBI.
ASU knotted the score with a three-run bottom half of the second, tallying the first run on J Thorne's single. Two more runs came home when the Norse mis-handled a shot to second base.
A pair of doubles in the third pushed the Norse back in front, 4-3. Devlin opened the frame with a double to right center and scored when Bartolovich also sent a ball into right-center for another two-bagger.
Again, the Hornet answered in their next at-bat. Evan's drove in the tying run with an RBI single.
The runs kept coming an inning later.
Devlin's sac fly plated Maher to push the Norse back in front by a run. But, the Hornets answered with a two-RBI single from Alexis Johnson to take their first lead of the game, 6-5.
Alabama State tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend its lead to 8-5 with the Norse down to their final three outs.
NKU answered.
Paige McQueen was hit by a pitch and advanced to second when Hayes drew a walk. Roberts then drew a walk to load the bags for Maher, who delivered single down the right field line to push McQueen across the plate.
The Norse tied the game with the next batter. Allie Connor lifted a ball to centerfield, allowing Roberts to score on the sacrifice fly.
Alex Caudill sat the Hornets down in order in the bottom half of the seventh to send the game to extras.
Playing with international rules, Ferrante was placed at second and scored when Devlin smacked a double to left field to put NKU back in front, 9-8. The Norse tacked on an insurance run after Devlin advanced to third on Roy's groundout to second and then scored when ASU's first baseman misplayed a ball off of McQueen's bat.
The Hornets were able to get one of the runs back in its at-bat and a fielder's choice RBI. But, Caudill retired the next two batters to provide Northern Kentucky with the victory.
Caudill improved her record to 1-2 on the year, while Maddie Phelps suffered the loss for the Hornets and fell to 3-9.
The Norse doubled their way to victory in the game, belting out six two-baggers. Devlin, Maher and Bartalovich each registered two in the game.
