ELON, N.C. – Northern Kentucky softball fell in its opening games at the Elon February Classic, dropping a 4-2, eight-inning contest to Virginia before a 9-2 setback against host Elon.
Game 1: Virginia 4, NKU 2
At the Plate
- Virginia edged the Norse in hits, 7-4, with four different Norse recording a hit in the opening contest.
- Zahrya McFarland, Madi Mulder, Kit Rocco and Toree Stalter all went 1-for-3 at the plate, with Mulder and Rocco each driving in a run. Rocco's first collegiate hit was also her first RBI.
- McFarland and Alexis McDaniel each scored a run.
In the Circle
- Taylor Ginther pitched all eight innings for the Norse, walking three and striking out one.
Scoring Summary
- Virginia took a one-run lead in the top of the third, taking advantage of a leadoff double before Lacy Smith drove the runner in off a single to left field.
- NKU answered back with two runs in the bottom of the frame, starting with McDaniel reaching base off a fielder's choice. She was advanced to second on a passed ball and reached third after McFarland singled to the shortstop. Mulder came up with an RBI single to left center, driving McDaniel in, before Rocco singled to the shortstop to score McFarland.
- Virginia tied the contest up with a leadoff homer from Smith in the sixth, and she added another home run in the eighth, a two-run shot that would serve as the game winner for the Cavaliers.
Game 2: Elon 9, NKU 2
At the Plate
- Elon used 10 hits to score nine runs, while NKU tallied eight hits and scored twice.
- Mulder and McFarland both had multi-hit outings, as Mulder went 3-for-4 and McFarland was 2-for-4 at the plate.
- Rocco was 1-for-4 courtesy of her first collegiate triple, and scored one run for the Norse.
- Morgan Glover drove in one run, and Kailey Rossiter added a run.
In the Circle
- Emily Koperdak made the first start of her collegiate career and pitched 5.0 innings, walking four batters.
- Hailey Whitmer took over for the final inning of relief, striking out one and walking one.
Scoring Summary
- Elon got on the board with an RBI single in the third inning, but it was the fourth inning that propelled the Phoenix ahead of the Norse with three doubles helping them plate five runs.
- NKU scored twice in the sixth inning, beginning with a Mulder single to left center. The Norse were able to load the bases thanks to a pair of walks, and a fielding error allowed Rocco to cross the plate. Glover then drew a bases-loaded walk to send Rossiter home.
- Elon tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to reach the final count.
Norse Notes
- Each of NKU's freshmen made their career debuts. In addition to Rocco and Koperdak, Jordan Jenkins was the designated player against Virginia.
- McFarland, Mulder and Rocco recorded at least one hit in both games.
- NKU faced both Virginia and Elon for the first time in program history.
Up Next
- NKU is back at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning against Hampton, followed by a 4:45 p.m. tilt with North Carolina Central.
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