LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Northern Kentucky softball dropped both games of its doubleheader against Fort Wayne, falling 3-2 in the first game before an 11-6 setback to close out the day. NKU drops to 13-9 on the season, while the Mastodons advance to 14-20.
Game 1: Fort Wayne 3, NKU 2
At the Plate
- The Mastodons held a slight advantage in hits recorded, 8-7.
- Josie Frazier had the only multi-hit game for the Norse, going 2-for-4 from the plate with one run driven in.
- Sydney Ferrante drove in NKU's other run off a 1-for-3 showing, and Kailey Rossiter and Zahrya McFarland each scored a run for the Norse.
In the Circle
- Taylor Ginther tossed the first 6.1 innings, striking out five batters and walking just one.
- Faith Howard absorbed the loss in the final .2 innings of work, moving to 3-2 on the season.
Scoring Summary
- Fort Wayne took the lead in the second inning off an RBI double and held the advantage until the bottom of the fifth.
- NKU plated two runs in the fifth, starting with a leadoff single from McFarland. After stealing second and advancing to third off a single from Rossiter, Frazier drove McFarland in off a single through the left side. The Norse scored on the next play, with Ferrante's single to the second baseman allowing Rossiter to cross the plate and give NKU a 2-1 lead.
- The 'Dons answered back in the sixth to knot the contest, and took the lead for good in the final frame off a double down the right field line. Though Ava Lawson led off with a triple in the bottom of the inning, NKU was unable to secure a tying run.
Game 2: Fort Wayne 11, NKU 6
At the Plate
- Fort Wayne had a 14-9 advantage in the high-hitting affair.
- Kara Meter was the lone Norse with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 and scoring one run.
- Ferrante went 1-for-2 and scored a pair of runs to lead the Norse in scoring.
- Frazier, Lawson and Summer Libecap also crossed the plate for NKU.
In the Circle
- Ashlynn Roberts got the start and pitched 2.2 innings, striking out four batters and walking two. She moves to 4-3 with the setback.
- Frazier closed out the final 4.1 innings and recorded three strikeouts and just one walk.
Scoring Summary
- After a slow opening two innings, Fort Wayne exploded for seven runs in the third to take a decisive lead, and added an additional run in the top of the fourth before NKU would score its first run.
- NKU got on the board with a double from Meter, who was driven in by Lawson with a single down the left field line.
- Madi Mulder added a double in the fifth to drive in Ferrante, but the Mastodons answered back with three runs in the sixth to get out to an 11-2 lead.
- Alina Maher allowed the Norse to open up scoring in the frame with a sac fly that scored Summer Libecap. Frazier followed it up with an RBI single to left field, and she took advantage of an error, along with Ferrante, to cross the plate and bring the Norse within five.
- Fort Wayne went down in order in the seventh, but the Norse also were retired in order as the game closed out.
Up Next
- NKU hosts Wright State in its Horizon League opener on Wednesday, April 4. The doubleheader will replace the previously scheduled series against the Raiders, which was postponed due to field conditions. First serve will be at 2 p.m. at Grein Softball Field.
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