SAN JOSE, Calif. – Northern Kentucky softball split its opening day at the Silicon Valley Classic II, opening up the tournament with a come-from-behind victory over Cal State Northridge, 4-3, before falling to UC Davis, 3-0. The Norse move to 4-9 on the season.
Game 1: NKU 4, CSUN 3
At the Plate
In the Circle
- Taylor Ginther started for NKU, pitching 5.0 innings with five strikeouts and two batters walked.
- Hailey Whitmer picked up her first career victory, tossing the final 2.0 innings with two batters struck out and two walked.
Scoring Summary
- CSUN got on the board quickly, using back-to-back RBI singles in the first to take a 2-0 lead.
- The Matadors added one more off a sac fly in the third, and the Norse answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame. Stalter was walked, and NKU loaded the bases with singles from McDaniel and McFarland. Following a pitching change, Mulder scored Stalter off a sac fly to right field.
- NKU retired the Matadors in order in the seventh before Lawson led off with a single to right field. She was advanced by a Stalter single to left field, and Jordan Jenkins drew a walk as a pinch hitter, putting McDaniel on base. McFarland singled to right field, driving in Lawson and Stalter, and McDaniel scored the winning run off a Hoover sac fly to center field.
Game 2: UC Davis 3, NKU 0
At the Plate
- The Aggies out-hit the Norse, 6-2.
- Mulder and Josie Frazier each recorded a hit, with Mulder going 1-for-3 with a double and Frazier going 1-for-2.
In the Circle
- Emily Koperdak pitched 4.0 innings with two batters walked and no strikeouts. She moves to 0-5 with the setback.
- Whitmer tossed the final 2.0 innings, striking out four and walking one while surrendering just one hit.
Scoring Summary
- After a quick first one and a half innings that saw the Norse and the Aggies retired in order, UC Davis plated its first two runs off a two-run homer.
- The Aggies added its final run in the bottom of the third courtesy of an RBI groundout.
Up Next
- The Norse continue play in the tournament tomorrow, moving to Santa Clara's field for a pair of contests against Cal State Fullerton and Nevada. First pitch against the Titans is set for 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET, and the Norse will take on the Wolf Pack at 2:30 p.m. PT/5:30 ET.
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