CANTON, Ga. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team exploded for four home runs on Saturday, including two from Katelyn Roy, but a seventh-inning comeback in the nightcap gave Eastern Illinois a 6-5 win to conclude a day of softball action at Boling Park.
 
NKU's scoring against Eastern Illinois came from the long ball, as Roy, Dani Devlin and Sydney Ferrante each went deep in the contest. Roy's solo blast opened the scoring in the fourth inning before Devlin launched a three-run bomb in the sixth to extend the Norse lead. Ferrante's first career home run extended the Norse lead in the seventh inning.
 
Roy and Devlin each had two of NKU's eight hits on the game. Ashlynn Roberts got the start, surrendering five runs on six hits and striking out three in 5.1 innings of work.
 
Bailey O'Dell went 3-for-4 for the Panthers, including a two-run single that tied the game in the seventh for Eastern Illinois. Hannah Cole had a 2-for-4 day including the walk-off base hit. Jessica Wireman struck out three Norse batters in 1.2 innings of relief to improve to 2-5 on the season.
 
In the opener, Nena Doran hit three home runs and drove in four runs to lead Cleveland State to an 11-3 win. The Vikings (9-4) combined for 13 hits, including multi-hit games from five different players. Hannah Yoe added a three-run triple in the fourth inning.
 
The Norse (0-8) picked up four hits offensively, including two from Roy, who had a two-run home run in the second inning and doubled to lead off the fourth inning. KC Straley also went 2-for-2 with a walk and a pair of stolen bases.
 
NKU will close out the weekend with a pair of games tomorrow, taking on Cleveland State at 12:30 p.m.  before facing Saint Louis at 3 p.m.