HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky softball made the many-times postponed home opener worth the wait as the Norse took both games of a doubleheader against Wright State to open up both the home and Horizon League season. NKU surpassed its win total of last season, moving to 15-9 and 2-0 in Horizon League play with a 2-1 win over the Raiders followed by a 7-0 shutout.
Game 1: NKU 2, Wright State 1
At the Plate
- NKU edged the Raiders in the low-hitting affair, 5-3.
- Sydney Ferrante drove in one run for the Norse, while five different Norse recorded a hit.
- Kailey Rossiter and Toree Stalter crossed the plate to give NKU its two scores.
In the Circle
- Taylor Ginther pitched a complete game and moves to 7-4 on the season. She struck out two batters and walked two.
Scoring Summary
- NKU struck first in the bottom of the opening inning when Rossiter singled through the left side to reach base. She advanced to second and was able to make her way home after an error by the WSU second baseman got Madi Mulder on base.
- The Norse took a 2-0 lead courtesy of another Raider miscue, this time off what would have been a sac fly for Ferrante, allowing Stalter to cross the plate.
- Wright State scored its lone run in the sixth off a solo home run.
Game 2: NKU 7, Wright State 0
At the Plate
- Ava Lawson had a tremendous outing, going 3-for-3 with two homers and a double. She drove in six runs, two of which were her own.
- Ferrante also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 from the dish with a home run of her own and two runs scored.
- NKU held a 9-7 advantage in hits. The Raiders were able to load the bases twice, but the Norse pitching and defensive staff got the team out of the jam both times.
In the Circle
- Ashlynn Roberts picked up her fifth win of the year, moving to 5-3. She tossed 5.0 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
- Faith Howard hurled the final 2.0 innings, striking out one batter while not allowing a walk.
Scoring Summary
- NKU plated three runs in the first inning off a peculiar starting sequence of events. Josie Frazier sped to first base on a passed ball after striking out, and Rossiter reached on an error following an attempted sacrifice bunt. Ferrante singled through the left side to load the bases, and all three were driven in by Lawson after she doubled deep into right field.
- Lawson went yard in the third to give the Norse a 4-0 lead, sailing one over the right field wall.
- The fifth inning featured a pair of homers as Ferrante clubbed a solo home run to left field before Alina Maher singled to right field. Isabell Alexander entered the game as a pinch runner and was immediately sent home by another Lawson home run to right field.
Norse Notes
- With six RBI, Lawson ties Ferrante's single-game record for the Division I era. Ferrante drove in six runs against Youngstown State on April 13, 2017.
- Ferrante was also the last player to have two home runs in a game before Lawson recorded her pair against the Raiders, with a pair of homers at Detroit Mercy on April 9, 2017.
- The second game marked Lawson's first multi-RBI game of the season.
- NKU moves to 10-8 in the all-time series against the Raiders.
- Ferrante moves up to No. 6 on NKU's all-time career home runs list, with 15.
Up Next
- The Norse hit the road for IUPUI tomorrow and Saturday. Due to anticipated inclement weather, the two teams will now play a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, April 6. The remaining single game is scheduled for Saturday, but the time is still to be determined.
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