CLEVELAND – Zahrya McFarland picked up two hits and Dani Devlin drove in two runs as the Northern Kentucky University softball team fell to Cleveland State, 5-3, in Horizon League action on Friday afternoon.
 
NKU (9-24, 2-13 Horizon) totaled four hits on the day and left five runners on base.
 
Cleveland State (12-26, 5-8 Horizon) opened the scoring in the first inning, getting a two-run single from Alyson Broschk to take an early lead. The Norse answered in the top of the second, as Alina Maher led off the inning with a single and came around to score on a throwing error.
 
The Vikings expanded their lead with one run in the third and two more in the fourth to make it a 5-1 lead before the Norse responded in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Devlin went the opposite way, shooting a two-run single down the right-field line to cut the advantage down to 5-3.
 
The Norse got the tying run to the plate with one out in the seventh, but an infield popup and a grounder to short ended the threat.
 
Charlie Nolen (4-13) took the loss for the Norse, giving up four earned runs on four hits with four walks and a strikeout in three-plus innings. Ashlynn Roberts threw three innings of two-hit, scoreless relief with a pair of strikeouts as well.
 
The win went to Sarah Knight (2-13), who scattered four hits and walked two while surrendering three runs in the complete-game effort. Knight also helped her own cause with two hits, including a double, and Katelind Phillips added a pair of hits as well.
 
The teams will wrap up the weekend series on Saturday with doubleheader action. First pitch is set for noon with the action carried live on ESPN3.