HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky softball shut out Youngstown State in six innings, 9-0, before falling in a comeback victory to the Penguins, 6-4. With the doubleheader, NKU now sits at 10-26 overall and 4-7 in Horizon League play, while YSU moves to 17-23 (5-6 HL).
Game 1: NKU 9, Youngstown State 0
At the Plate
- Senior DP Dani Devlin led the Norse at the plate, going 2-for-3 with four RBI. Devlin ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run homer to put NKU up 9-0 and invoke the run rule.
- Junior third baseman Sydney Ferrante went 2-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.
- NKU also saw RBI out of freshman shortstop Toree Stalter and senior second baseman Paige McQueen.
In the Circle
- Senior Charlie Nolen threw her first shutout of the season to move to 4-6. She allowed just one hit while fanning four Youngstown State batters throughout six innings.
Key Moments
- NKU immediately got to scoring with two runs in the first inning, with a sac fly from Devlin allowing Stalter to cross the plate before Ferrante scored on a ground out.
- The Norse plated three more in the fourth inning, which was led off by a double from Alina Maher. She was driven in off a say fly from Stalter, and NKU continued to build momentum with a pair of RBI singles from Ferrante and Devlin.
- After retiring the Penguins in order in the top of the sixth, the Norse went on to score four runs in the bottom of the frame and invoke the run rule. Ferrante laced a two-RBI double to right center, and was sent home by Devlin with a game-ending home run.
Game 2: Youngstown State 6, NKU 4
At the Plate
- Maher went 1-for-4 and drove in three runs with a home run in the seventh inning.
- Devlin also recorded a home run for the Norse, going 1-for-3 at the plate.
In the Circle
- Junior Ashlynn Roberts got the start for the Norse and pitched 6.0 innings with two strikeouts while walking one.
- Nolen and freshman Taylor Ginther appeared in the final inning, with Ginther finishing the contest out as the Penguins recorded their final two hits and runs against the rookie hurler.
Key Moments
- The game was scoreless until the fifth inning, when Devlin knocked in a solo home run to give NKU a 1-0 lead.
- Youngstown State exploded in the seventh inning with six runs, including a pair of two-run home runs.
- Maher was able to bring the Norse within two runs after blasting a three-run homer to left field, but the Norse were unable to close the gap by the close of the frame.
Norse Notes
- Youngstown State leads the all-time series with NKU, 3-2.
- Devlin recorded her 10th and 11th home runs in the doubleheader. She is just one homer away from tying her most in a single season after blasting 12 during her sophomore campaign.
- Devlin's walk-off home run was the first of its kind for NKU since Emily Schwaeble went yard to end the game against Wisconsin-Parkside on April 7, 2012.
- So far in the series, Devlin is batting .500 and slugging 1.500 with five RBI.
- Maher recorded her first multi-RBI game of the season, while Ferrante had her second and Devlin notched her fifth. It marked the third time this season that Devlin had driven in four runs in a single game.
- Both Stalter and Devlin have reached base for the past 10 games.
Up Next
- The Norse wrap up the series with the Penguins tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET.
Join the Uprising!
