HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Charlie Nolen pitched 13 innings across two games, surrendering just one hit as the Northern Kentucky University softball team split a Horizon League doubleheader against Detroit on Saturday afternoon.
Nolen picked up her first shutout as a Norse in the opener with a 4-0 win, and threw six innings of relief in a 4-0 loss in the nightcap. With the results, NKU moved to 9-27 overall and 2-6 in Horizon League play.
Game 1 The Norse took advantage of eight walks from the Detroit pitching staff to score four runs on the benefit of just two hits in the opener.
Kate Bartolovich got the Norse on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring
Alina Maher, who led off the inning with a walk.
An RBI single from
Zahrya McFarland in the bottom of the fifth doubled the Norse lead to 2-0 before
Kara Meter picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice to score
Dani Devlin and
Zahrya McFarland when the throw to the plate was booted away, making the final score.
Nolen retired nine in a row in the early going to cruise in the contest, giving up just four hits and one walk while striking out two in the complete-game effort.
The loss fell to Keaira Schilling (1-4), who walked six and struck out three in 4.1 innings of work. Alyssa James went 2-for-3 with a stolen base to pace the Titans' offensive effort.
Game 2 A three-run homer by Christa McGahuey in the top of the first inning was all the offense the Titans (10-28, 3-6 Horizon) needed in the nightcap. The runs came unearned off NKU starter
Jordan Harbacek (5-9), who was lifted for Nolen in relief after the first inning.
Nicolette Hayes extended her on-base streak to 11 games with a single to lead off the bottom of the first after drawing a walk in the opener.
Paige McQueen added a two-hit game as well as the Norse managed six hits in the contest.
Nolen held the Titans off the scoreboard until the seventh inning, when an RBI triple by Laura Villagrana plated an insurance run for Detroit.
The Norse made noise in the bottom of the seventh, getting back-to-back singles from
Sydney Ferrante and McQueen with two outs, but a groundout ended the contest.
Alexis Robison-Kohrs (3-7) scattered six hits without a walk and struck out six in the shutout win. Jordan Manno had a standout day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles.
The Norse get some extended time off without a midweek contest before hitting the road next weekend to take on UIC in a Horizon League series. Friday's opener is scheduled for a 3 p.m. Central (4 p.m. Eastern) start.
