INDIANAPOLIS –
Sydney Ferrante extended her on-base streak to a team-high nine games as the Northern Kentucky University softball team fell in both ends of a doubleheader at IUPUI on Tuesday, losing by scores of 5-2 and 7-3.
Ferrante reached on a walk and scored in Game 1 and claimed three hits in Game 2 as the Norse fell to 5-29 overall.
Paige McQueen also picked up hits in both games for the Norse.
Game 1 KC Straley went 2-for-3 with a pair of extra-base hits as the Norse dropped a 5-2 decision in the opener. The Norse combined for six hits, with
Paige McQueen adding an RBI on a sacrifice fly to a 1-for-2 game.
Delilah Wright and Taylor Chitwood each had two hits for IUPUI, while Ali Mosier reached base three times and stole three bases. Eryn Dillon drove in three runs in the Jaguars' effort.
The Norse struck in the top of the first inning for a pair of runs to take an early lead. Straley led the game off with a double and advanced to third base on an illegal pitch from IUPUI's Brook Boetjer. After Ferrante drew a walk, McQueen lifted a fly ball to centerfield deep enough to score Straley. Ferrante deftly took second on the play, and the throw from IUPUI catcher Eryn Dillon sailed back into the outfield, allowing Ferrante to score as well, giving NKU a 2-0 advantage.
IUPUI responded in the bottom of the third inning when a Morgan Schlobohm infield single led things off. Mosier and Roni Patterson each walked to load the bases and set up Dillon's sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Schlobohm to cut the Norse lead in half.
A pair of Norse errors allowed the Jaguars to take the lead in the fourth inning. Megan Cory reached on a dropped fly ball to right to lead off the inning before Sarah Lawrence, looking to sacrifice, reached safely when
Ashlynn Roberts' throw went off line, allowing Cory to score from first base. A sacrifice bunt by Schlobohm set up Mosier's RBI single to right to give IUPUI a 3-2 lead.
Dillon closed out the scoring in the fifth inning with a two-run home run to centerfield, scoring Patterson, who singled to lead off the frame.
The Norse threatened in the seventh inning after a one-out triple by Straley and a walk to McQueen put the tying run on base with two outs, but
Katelyn Roy flew out to center to end the game.
Boetjer (16-9) got the win in the circle, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out one in six innings. Emili Escamilla came on in the seventh to record her first save of the season.
The loss fell to Roberts (3-11), who surrendered three earned runs on nine hits and walked three batters in the complete-game effort.
Game 2 Ferrante picked up three of NKU's six hits, including a double, scored a run and drove in another in a 7-3 loss in the nightcap. Nine different Jaguars combined for 13 hits, with four player posting two-hit games.
It was IUPUI starting the early scoring, as Dillon laced a single through the right side in the bottom of the first inning to score Wright, who reached on a fielder's choice when Mosier was tagged out at third after a leadoff walk.
Jazmine Pedrotti added to the Jaguars' lead with a pinch-hit two-run double in the second inning before NKU responded in the top of the third. Conner started the rally by taking first base on catcher's interference and scoring on Ferrante's RBI-double. McQueen followed with an RBI-single to cut the deficit to a single run at 3-2.
Chitwood's two-run home run in the bottom of the third pushed IUPUI's advantage back to three runs. Chitwood came back in her next at bat with a triple in the bottom of the fifth, scoring on a Schlobohm double to extend the lead to 6-2.
The Norse got a run back on consecutive doubles by
Kate Bartolovich and Roberts to lead off the top of the sixth inning. IUPUI answered on a sacrifice fly by Cory to score Patterson and reach the final score.
Escamilla (11-3) went the distance in the victory, striking out five while giving up a pair of earned runs on six hits.
Alex Caudill (2-10) pitched all six innings for the Norse, recording one strikeout.
NKU continues its string of 12 road games in 12 days this weekend, traveling to take on Atlantic Sun Conference foe Stetson for a three-game series. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. followed by Sunday's finale at noon.
