HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Zahrya McFarland went 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and the walk-off run in Northern Kentucky's 7-6 victory over Oakland on Friday afternoon to open the 2016 Horizon League softball schedule.
 
The Norse totaled nine hits on the day, with Kate Bartolovich going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and Sydney Ferrante clubbing her third home run of the year to help the Norse improve to 8-18 overall and 1-0 in Horizon League play.
 
Brittney Miller's three-run double in the top of the seventh inning sparked a four-run frame for the Golden Grizzlies (4-18, 0-1 Horizon) and tied things up at 6-6. Sarah Hartley, Lyndsey Hill and Kayley Bartholemew each had two of Oakland's 11 hits on the game.
 
After Oakland scored two in the top of the third inning, the Norse came back with a pair of their own in the bottom half, loading the bases, Hayley Curtis scored on a throwing error and Kate Bartolovich added an RBI single to tie the score.
 
Bartolovich struck again in the fifth inning with another RBI single to score Nicolette Hayes, who walked to lead things off, giving NKU a 3-2 advantage.
 
Ferrante's blast, a laser shot over the left-center field wall, came with two outs in the sixth inning to increase the Norse lead. Hayes would plate another run on an Oakland error to push the Norse lead to 6-2.
 
After Oakland's comeback in the seventh, Alina Maher led things off with a single down the line. After Ashley Rains sacrificed herself, McFarland shot one up the middle, taking second on the throw to the plate. Maher was cut down at the plate after Curtis's slap to third before McFarland came home with the winning run during the following at bat.
 
Jordan Harbacek (5-5) got the win for the Norse, striking out six without a walk in the complete-game effort. Haley Zemmer (2-8) struck out seven and walked two in the loss for Oakland.
 
The Norse and Golden Grizzlies conclude their three-game Horizon League series on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.