CANTON, Ga. - Katelyn Roy added her third multi-hit game in two days as the Northern Kentucky University softball team suffered losses to Cleveland State and Saint Louis to close out play from Boling Park this weekend. Roy had a pair of singles in an 8-0 loss to Saint Louis, while Allie Conner added a single and a run scored in a 10-2 loss to Cleveland State. With the results, NKU fell to 0-10 on the year heading into a series of doubleheaders over Spring Break. A two-run single from Erica McNew and a sacrifice fly by Alyson Broschk helped the Vikings (10-5) post a four-run first inning. After adding another run in the second on a Hannah Yoe home run, the Norse got on the board with sacrifice flies from Dani Devlin and Paige McQueen, marking Devlin's team-best fifth RBI of the year. Cleveland State added five runs in the fourth on the strength of home runs from Nena Doran, Cynthia Woodard and Mackenzie Joecken, and held on for the final score.
Sydney Ferrante and Kate Bartolovich each picked up doubles in the game as well, while Kelley Benhase struck out two in two innings of relief work. Ashlynn Roberts (0-4) was saddled with the loss, giving up five earned runs in three innings in the start. The win went to Cleveland State's Joecken (2-1), who claimed strikeouts on five Norse batters. Lindsay Friedman's two-run homer in the first inning and a grand slam by Allie MacFarlane in the third helped Saint Louis (12-6) to an 8-0 win in the nightcap. Alex Nickel and Macie Wheeler each claimed two hits in the game.
Back-to-back walks to Alex Caudill and Conner to lead off the third inning helped the Norse get two in scoring position, but Roy popped up to end NKU's scoring threat. Billikens' hurler Laney Kneib retired 10 of the next 11 Norse batters to lead Saint Louis to the win in a two-hit shutout. After taking an off day Monday, the Norse will play six games over the next three days over Spring Break, beginning Tuesday at Tennessee State. The doubleheader is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. The Norse then head to Tennessee Martin the following day for a 2 p.m. twin bill. Thursday will see the Norse take on Alabama A&M for a pair beginning at 2 p.m.
