HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky (7-15 Overall, 6-8 Horizon League) clinched the series against Cleveland State (9-17 Overall, 4-10 Horizon League) with a pair of wins on Saturday afternoon. NKU won game one, 6-5, in walk-off fashion before an offensive explosion ended game two, 12-1, after five innings.
Game 1: NKU 6, CSU 5
At the Plate
- Six Norse registered hits in the game, combining for seven total. Josie Frazier, Ava Lawson, Madi Mulder, Jordan Jenkins, and Maddie Lacer all earned a single hit.
- Hailey Whitmer was the only Norse with multiple knocks, going 2-for-3 and earning an RBI.
- Lawson hit a homerun for the second time this series, giving her six on the season and four in conference play. She had two RBIs in the contest.
In the Circle
- Lauryn Hicks got the start. She tossed three innings before giving way to Faith Howard
- Howard pitched the next 3.2 innings and allowed two runs, only one of which was earned.
- With a lone out in the top of the seventh, Hicks came back in to pitch for Howard. Hicks was credited with the win, as the Norse claimed a walk-off victory in the bottom of the seventh. She moves to 5-7 overall and 4-3 in Horizon League action.
Scoring Summary
- Cleveland State opened the game with an RBI single to right.
- McKeough drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the first, setting up Lawson for her two-run long ball to left field.
- The Vikings answered with a shot of their own to left in the third, making it 2-2.
- CSU proceeded to earn another pair of runs the next inning. One by way of a homerun to centerfield, and one from an RBI groundout.
- NKU answered in each of its next four at-bats.
- In the fourth Whitmer drove home Mulder with an RBI sac fly, making it a one run game, 4-3, in favor of the Vikings.
- In the bottom of the fifth, Jenkins had a RBI-single to second base scoring McKeough.
- The next inning saw LeMonier hit an RBI groundout to second, scoring Lenhart and giving the Norse a 5-4 advantage.
- Cleveland State hit an RBI-single down the left field line in the seventh to tie the game at 6-6.
- With the bases loaded and two outs, Frazier was up to bat. She hit a two-out grounder to the shortstop, who misplayed the ball for the Vikings' fourth error of the game. Lacer scored on the play to give NKU the walk-off- win.
Game 2: NKU 12, CSU 1
At the Plate
- Northern Kentucky finished with nine hits among six batters.
- Lawson went 2-for-2 with a walk and scored all three times.
- Lacer also had two hits in three at bats, with the highlight being a grand slam in the second. The bomb was the first of her career. Lacer finished with five RBI and a run scored.
- Mulder also contributed two hits in two at-bats with two RBI and two runs scored.
- McKeough added a hit a run, an RBI and a walk to the Norse totals.
- Kaylee McGinn picked up her second hit of the season and Abby Moffett collected her first hit as a Norse.
- Eleven of the twelve runs scored came with two outs.
In the Circle
- Madisyn Eads earned her fourth start in as many games.
- Eads pitched a complete game and is credited with the win, moving to 1-1 on the year.
- She gave up four hits and a lone run, striking out six batters.
Scoring Summary
- The Norse scored a plethora of runs to start the game, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after one. Two were scored on a RBI single by Mulder with the bases loaded, one scored on a Lacer's single to right field, and the final run was scored on a fielding error that allowed Whitmer to reach base.
- The next inning, NKU scored another five runs. The first of the five came on Lawson's RBI-single to right field. The hit scored LeMonier, who just prior had stolen second base. The other four runs were scored on Lacer's grand slam.
- The grand slam is the first since March 6, 2021, where McKeough hit one against Saint Louis.
- The third inning saw three runs scored by Northern Kentucky. The first by way of an RBI single to left field from McKeough, and the others scored on a 2-RBI double to left center by McGinn.
- The final run of the game was scored by the Vikings in their side of the fifth. The run came by way of a homer to centerfield with one out.
Up Next
The Norse will get back on the road as they travel to Chicago to take on UIC in a four-game series. The matches will be played on Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3, and are going to be streamed on ESPN+.
#NorseUp