RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Northern Kentucky softball got back in the win column on Friday afternoon with a pair of wins over Southern Utah, 5-4, and Idaho State, 7-5. The Norse move to 6-13 on the season with the victories, while SUU fell to 1-14 and the Bengals dipped to 6-14.
Game 1: NKU 5, Southern Utah 4
At the Plate
In the Circle
- Taylor Ginther pitched a complete game, moving to 4-6 with the victory. She struck out five batters and walked three.
Scoring Summary
- NKU needed just its first three batters to get on the board, as McFarland led off by drawing a walk and was advanced by a sac bunt from Kailey Rossiter. She was driven in by Mulder thanks to a double to left center, who was then sent across the plate by Rocco. Rocco then used a pair of wild pitches to score and put the Norse up 3-0.
- Toree Stalter drew a walk in the second and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches before being driven in off a McFarland single up the middle.
- The Norse continued to score in the third, with Mulder reaching base by way of another walk. Alexis McDaniel pinch ran for her and was driven in by a double up the middle from Lawson.
- Southern Utah plated two runs in the bottom of the third courtesy of back-to-back RBI singles, closing the scoring gap to 5-2.
- The Thunderbirds added a third run in the bottom of the fourth as a player was walked and later driven in off a single up the middle.
- Southern Utah was able to load the bases in the final inning, but mustered just one run before Ginther struck out the final batter.
Game 2: NKU 7, Idaho State 5
At the Plate
- NKU edged the Bengals at the plate, 11-9.
- Rossiter, Lawson and Taylor Hoover all had multi-hit outings, each going 2-for-4. Rossiter added a pair of runs scored.
- Rocco, Mulder and Emily Koperdak drove in multiple runs. Mulder had three RBI while Koperdak and Rocco each drove in two runs apiece.
In the Circle
- Hailey Whitmer started in the circle for the Norse, allowing four hits.
- Koperdak pitched the remaining 6.2 innings of the contest, striking out two batters and walking one. She picked up the first victory of her collegiate career.
Scoring Summary
- The Bengals struck first in the top of the opening inning, as a leadoff single was turned into a run off an RBI double. The play was immediately followed by a two-run home run to give Idaho State a 3-0 edge.
- One more run was added to Idaho State's count in the third inning as a Bengal reached base on a fielder's choice, stole two bases and was driven in off an RBI single.
- Rocco homered to right field in the fourth for her first collegiate home run, driving in Rossiter to give the Norse a pair of runs.
- Idaho State led off the fourth with a solo home run to go ahead 5-2.
- Koperdak recorded the first home run of her career in the top of the fifth, scoring McDaniel as well with a two-run shot over left center field. McFarland and Rossiter soon reached base on a pair of singles, and the pair was driven in off a three-run homer from Mulder to give the Norse the lead and the eventual final score, 7-5.
Up Next
- The Norse will face both teams again tomorrow, starting with Idaho State at 11:30 a.m. PT/2:30 p.m. ET before wrapping up the day against Southern Utah at 2 p.m. PT/5 ET.
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