DELAND, Fla. –
Paige McQueen collected three hits and drove in five runs for the Northern Kentucky University softball team in a 7-5 loss to Stetson on Sunday to wrap up the Atlantic Sun Conference series between the teams.
McQueen finished 3-for-4 on the day, including a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning as the Norse forged a late rally, but found the deficit too great to overcome, falling to 5-31 overall and 1-14 in A-Sun play.
KC Straley and
Ashlynn Roberts each rapped a pair of hits as well for the Norse with Roberts,
Sydney Ferrante and
Kate Bartolovich each adding doubles as well as NKU collected 11 hits and left nine runners on base.
Kelsey Waters went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer to lead the Stetson offense, while Jazz Vasquez added a 2-for-4 performance and Demi Meza went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
The bulk of Stetson's damage came in the bottom of the second inning when the Hatters (25-15, 8-8 A-Sun) combined for six runs in the frame. Jessica Griffin got things started with a one-out single, followed by a walk to Amanda Grimaldo. Courtney Brandt lined out to the shortstop for the second out of the inning before pinch hitter Morgan Hatch hit a grounder back to NKU pitcher
Alex Caudill but reached safely on a throwing error that allowed pinch runner Amanda Peck to score the game's first run.
Waters followed up with her three-run home run on a 1-0 pitch to make it a 4-0 game. The Hatters continued to rally as Meza added a two-run double to score Jesse Tenbroeck and Vasquez, who walked and singled, respectively, to keep things going for Stetson.
Waters added an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning to score Grimaldo, who doubled to the gap in left center to lead off the inning, to make it a 7-0 game and conclude the Hatters' scoring.
Bartolovich doubled with one out in the top of the sixth inning to get a scoring rally started for the Norse. McQueen followed with a single up the middle to put the Norse on the board, 1-0.
NKU's big rally came in the seventh inning, started by a leadoff single by Straley. Ferrante walked and
Katelyn Roy singled to left field to load the bases to set up McQueen's grand slam on the first pitch she saw in the inning, cutting the Stetson lead to two runs.
Roberts followed with an infield single to bring up the tying run in
Nicolette Hayes, who hit a liner back up the middle that found the glove of pitcher Chelsea Hostetler to end the game.
Hostetler (16-7) got the win in a complete-game effort for the Hatters, giving up five earned runs on 11 hits while walking four and striking out four.
Alex Caudill (2-12) took the loss for NKU, giving up six unearned runs on five hits in 1.2 innings in the start.
Alyssa Enrique threw three innings of one-hit shutout relief, striking out one.
The Norse are back in action with a pair of midweek doubleheaders. NKU will take on Morehead State on Tuesday followed by a twin bill at Marshall on Wednesday. First pitch each day is set for 2 p.m.
