RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Northern Kentucky shut out Idaho State, 3-0, before falling in eight innings to Southern Utah, 4-3, on Saturday. The Norse move to 7-14 on the season.
Game 1: NKU 3, Idaho State 0
At the Plate
- Idaho State had a 7-6 advantage in hits, but the Bengals were not allowed to score at all.
- Zahrya McFarland had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a run driven in.
- Emily Koperdak and Toree Stalter also added an RBI each, with Stalter chipping in a double and a run scored.
In the Circle
- Taylor Ginther pitched her second complete-game shutout of the season and the third of her career, moving to 5-6 on the season. The junior hurler added one strikeout while walking two batters.
Scoring Summary
- After nearly five scoreless innings, NKU posted two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Hailey Whitmer was walked, and Isabell Alexander pinch ran, advancing to second on an error by the Idaho State catcher. She was driven in off a Stalter double to right center. McFarland then scored Stalter on an RBI single to give the Norse a 2-0 edge.
- NKU plated one more run in the bottom of the sixth. Ava Lawson singled to the shortstop and advanced to third on two wild pitches. She was driven in off a single to right field by Koperdak.
Game 2: Southern Utah 4, NKU 3
At the Plate
- Southern Utah posted an 8-6 edge in hits.
- McFarland contributed another multi-hit performance, as she and Lawson both went 2-for-4. Lawson drove in two of NKU's runs.
- Koperdak and Alexander added a hit apiece, with Lawson driving in one run.
In the Circle
- Koperdak tossed 8.0 innings for the Norse, striking out three batters while walking none. She drops to 1-7 on the season.
Scoring Summary
- The Norse got on the board in the second inning when Koperdak singled down the left field line and McDaniel went in to pinch run. She was advanced by a sac bunt and a groundout, and scored when Josie Frazier later stole second.
- Southern Utah claimed a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth, scoring a pair of unearned runs on back-to-back fielder's choices.
- NKU tied it back up in the sixth as Taylor Hoover drew a walk, and Alexander went in to pinch run. She was driven in off a single to center field by Lawson.
- The game went to eight innings, tied at 2-2 after seven frames. The Thunderbirds advanced the runner placed on second to start the inning, and she was driven in off a two-run homer to center field as Southern Utah claimed a 4-2 lead.
- NKU loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth, as Rocco was placed on second, Koperdak drew a walk and Alexander singled. Rocco was driven home off a Lawson single to the pitcher to get the Norse within a run, 4-3. That would be the final run of the game, as three-straight outs closed out the contest.
Up Next
- NKU takes on Idaho State for a third time to wrap up its West Coast trip. The Norse and the Bengals square off at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET.
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