BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Northern Kentucky softball picked up a pair of wins, starting the season at 2-2 for the first time since transitioning to Division I. The Norse first had a 3-2 win over Bucknell before an eight-inning game ended in a 5-4 win over Campbell to avenge yesterday's setback to the Camels.
Game 1: NKU 3, Bucknell 2
At the Plate
- Bucknell was able to out-hit the Norse, 7-5.
- Both Ferrante and Whitmer had doubles in the contest. Ferrante's was her third in as many games while Whitmer's was the first of her career.
In the Circle
- Ashlynn Roberts got the start, tossing 4.1 innings with three strikeouts and one batter walked. She picked up the win and moves to 1-1 this year.
- Taylor Ginther added 2.2 innings of relief, allowing two hits and walking one.
Key Moments
- NKU used a strong third inning to take the lead over Bucknell, 3-0. Frazier got the first hit of the game for the Norse after Rossiter and Toree Stalter were both walked. Stalter later scored on a wild pitch that moved Frazier and Rossiter to second and third, respectively.
- Ferrante drove both runners in with a double to right center.
- Bucknell closed the scoring gap to one run in the fifth, courtesy of a two-run home run.
- The Bison were in scoring position with runners on the corners and one out in the top of the sixth, but the Norse used a fielder's choice to tag both runners out and keep their lead.
- Bucknell led off with a double in the top of the seventh, but a double play orchestrated by Madi Mulder and Stalter took away the threat, and the win was sealed with a groundout to Stalter.
Game 2: NKU 5, Campbell 4 (8)
At the Plate
- The Norse had just four hits in the contest, taking advantage of Campbell's pitching inconsistencies with six walks drawn along with three fielding errors.
- Mulder had her third multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4. Ava Lawson and Isabell Alexander also added hits, as well as an RBI apiece.
- Stalter led the Norse with two RBI, drawing two walks and clubbing the game-winning sac fly in the eighth.
In the Circle
- Faith Howard pitched 5.0 innings before Ginther came on in relief and picked up the win with her three innings of work.
Key Moments
- Campbell scored the first run off a fielder's choice in the bottom of the third.
- NKU took advantage of Campbell's pitching, drawing two walks while two batters were hit by pitch to knot the score at 1-1. A single from Alexander to center field drove in Zahrya McFarland, and a fielding error allowed Lawson to cross the plate as well for a 3-1 Norse lead.
- Lawson doubled to right center in the top of the fifth to give NKU its fourth run, sending Alexis McDaniel across the plate.
- Campbell used two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to tie it up and force extra innings.
- Brummell was placed on second to start the extra inning and was advanced by a sac bunt from Lawson. She was sent home on a sac fly from Statler. The Camels advanced their runner to third on the first pitch from a sac bunt as well, but she remained at third as the final two outs were made.
Norse Notes
- With her double against Bucknell, Ferrante claimed sole possession of ninth in NKU's all-time career doubles list, with 32. She is one double away from seventh.
- The Norse start the season at 2-2 for the first time since transitioning to Division I.
- Mulder batted .462 and had a .538 slugging percentage in her debut weekend, going 6-for-13 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored.
- Brummell, Ferrante and Stalter each had two RBI over course of the opening games.
Up Next
- The Norse will take a week off before heading to the Sunshine State for Spring Break. NKU will play 12 games in a nine-day span, starting with the Madeira Beach Spring Invitational hosted by Eastern Michigan, March 2-4.
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