CHARLESTON, S.C. – Northern Kentucky softball fell in its two matchups during the second day of the Holy City Showdown, dropping an 8-1 game to RV/RV North Carolina before a heartbreaking walk-off single gave Robert Morris a 3-2 win over the Norse. NKU finishes the day with a 2-13 record, while the Tar Heels moved to 20-5 and the Colonials advanced to 5-14.
Game 1: RV/RV North Carolina 8, NKU 1
At the Plate
- NKU was out-hit by North Carolina, 11-4, in the 8-1 setback.
- Freshman infielder Toree Stalter went 2-for-3 for the second multi-hit game of her young career.
- Fellow rookie Ava Lawson went 1-for-2 at the dish and had the lone run for the Norse.
- Senior utility Paige McQueen recorded the final hit in two at-bats, while junior infielder Sydney Ferrante drove in NKU's run off a sac bunt.
In the Circle
- Freshman Vega Theophilus made her first career start for the Norse, pitching 4.2 innings with six hits and six runs allowed. She was credited with the first loss of her career.
- Senior Charlie Nolen threw the last 2.1 innings, allowing six hits and two runs.
Key Moments
- North Carolina jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a fielding error, while the Norse were retired in order for the first two frames.
- NKU was able to score its only run of the contest when Lawson doubled to center field and later advanced to third on a single by Stalter. Ferrante brought Lawson home with a sac bunt and knotted it up at 1-1.
- The Tar Heels plated five runs in the fifth inning and two in the seventh to run out to the final 8-1 advantage over the Norse.
Norse Notes
- The meeting marked the first in program history between the two teams.
- McQueen extended her reached base streak to eight games, which is the only active multi-game streak on the team.
Game 2: Robert Morris 3, NKU 2
At the Plate
- Both the Norse and the Patriots recorded eight hits, with three Norse posting a multi-hit game.
- Senior utility Paige McQueen went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in one run for the Norse.
- Both junior DH Kate Bartolovich and freshman centerfielder Ava Lawson went 2-for-3.
In the Circle
- Junior Ashlynn Roberts threw 6.2 innings for the Norse, allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out three RMU batters.
Key Moments
- Neither team was able to plate a run until the third inning, when Ferrante scored on a McQueen double to right field.
- The Norse took a 2-0 lead courtesy of Isabell Alexander crossing the plate off a sac fly by Kara Meter, and Robert Morris recorded its first run off a home run to cut NKU's lead to 2-1.
- NKU was in prime position to take the contest, up 2-1 entering the bottom of the seventh. However, RMU was able to tie it up on a wild pitch and subsequently take the game courtesy of a walk-off single to center field.
Norse Notes
- The meeting marked the first in program history between the two teams.
- McQueen extended her reached base streak to nine games, the longest active streak on the team by seven games. She also extended to a three-game hit streak, her longest of the season.
- Lawson's multi-hit game was her fourth of the season, which is tied for the most multi-hit games on the team.
Up Next
- NKU wraps up the Holy City Showdown tomorrow morning, taking on Chattanooga at 9:30 a.m. ET.
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