YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Northern Kentucky softball lost both contests in a midweek doubleheader with Youngstown State. The losses move NKU to 3-7 in Horizon League action and 4-14 overall. YSU is pushed to 4-2 in league play and 11-7 in all games. The overall series now shifts in favor of the Penguins, 9-7.
 
Game 1: YSU 4, NKU 2
At the Plate

• Ella LeMonier (1-of-3), Madi Mulder (1-of-3), Maddie Lacer (1-of-3), and Jordan Jenkins (1-of-3) all finished with a hit apiece.
• Mulder was the only batter for NKU to drive in runs, with 2RBI.
• Hailey Whitmer (2-of-3) was the only Norse to reach base twice off of hits.
• Northern Kentucky totaled six hits and left four runners on base.

 
In the Circle

• Sophomore Lauryn Hicks picked up her seventh start on the season.
• Hicks pitched a complete game and gave up four earned runs, all of which came in the second inning.
• She fanned five Penguins, giving her 55 K's on the year. She moves to 3-7 in her sophomore season.

 
Scoring Summary

• Youngstown State opened scoring in the bottom of the second with four runs. The runs came from an RBI that saw the batter reach on a fielder's choice, an RBI single to left, an RBI SAC-fly to right field and by way of a wild pitch.
• Three of the four runs were scored with the bases loaded.
• The Norse finally broke through and scored a pair of runs with two outs in the sixth. With runners at second and third, Mulder singled to left field, allowing Frazier and Welch to reach home.
• NKU had a chance to tie the game in the seventh, but saw two runners stranded as Megan Lenhart struck out swinging, ended the game.

 
Game 2: YSU 4, NKU 3
At the Plate

• Ava Lawson (1-of-2), Kendyl McKeough (1-of-3), and Jenna O'Hair (1-of-3) were the only Norse to reach on a hit.
• Lawson hit her fourth homerun on the season, which is best on the team.

 
In the Circle

• Caitlin Karo earned her eighth start in the nine matches she has appeared in.
• Karo tossed five innings and allowed four earned runs on 10 hits. The five innings move her to 53.2 innings pitched on the year. She is also credited with the loss and drops to 1-5 this season.
• Faith Howard came in with no outs in the bottom of the sixth and stopped Youngstown State from doing any more damage.
• She was only able to pitch a single inning, as the Norse could not reclaim the lead or tie it up.

 
Scoring Summary

• After a pair of singles and a walk, the bases were loaded for Youngstown State with two outs in the bottom half of the second, setting up a bases-clearing triple to give the Penguins an early lead once again.
• With two runners on base, one reaching after being hit by a pitch and the other reaching on a fielding error by the third baseman, Ava Lawson stepped up to the plate.
• Lawson smashed a 3-run homer to right center, tying the game at three.
• The Penguins refused to let a late rally by the Norse change the momentum. They responded to the three-run homer with a RBI-single up the middle that scored one and regained a 4-3 advantage that held.

 
Next Up
Northern Kentucky returns home for a four-game set against Cleveland State. Noon doubleheaders are set for both Friday, March 26, and Saturday, March 27. All four games will air on ESPN+.