DURHAM, N.C. – Northern Kentucky played the toughest competition of its young season Saturday and lost back-to-back games to No. 13 Duke and No. 19 Michigan in the Duke Invitational at Duke Softball Stadium.

Game One vs. No. 13 Duke
No. 13 Duke defeated NKU 15-0 in five innings. It was the first meeting between the Norse and defending ACC champion Blue Devils.
 
At the Plate

• Kendyl McKeough accounted for NKU's lone hit of the game with a fourth-inning single.
• Duke's three pitchers combined for five scoreless innings and allowed the one hit. Peyton St. George (3-1) recorded the win while Kendyl McKeough made contact on a pitch by Claire Davidson.

In the Circle

• Sydni Barnes (1-) absorbed the loss after a tough start, in which she hit the first batter with a pitch and surrendered back-to-back home runs.
• Alicia Flores replaced Barnes in the circle after the Norse fell behind 3-0. She walked two and struck out two to end the inning, stranding three on base, but surrendered four runs in the top of the second.
• Madisyn Eads took over with Norse down 7-0. Duke scored three more runs before the innning's end.

At a Glance

• Duke took the early lead and padded it substantially to force an abbreviated ending. The Blue Devils amassed 14 hits, including four doubles and five home runs.
• Duke entered the game ranked fourth nationally in home runs with 2.08 per game, led by Kristina Foreman, who was tied for seventh. She went 2-for-2 with a home run and  2 RBI against the Norse.
• NKU had three errors and struggled to get its bats going.

Game Two vs. No. 19 Michigan
No. 19 Michigan dealt NKU a 14-1 loss in a finale at Duke Softball Stadium. 
 
At the Plate

• The Norse had three hits throughout the game, starting with two in the fourth inning. Tatum Biddle's bunt single got things going and Kendyl McKeough singled to left field soon after.
• Ella LeMonier had a bunt single in the bottom of the sixth.

In the Circle

• Lauryn Hicks (2-2) pitched 3.1 innings. She started the game, came out and also ended it, as she replaced Sydni Barnes in the top of the seventh and expedited three outs in short order. She struck out one, walked one, allowed 10 hits and gave up six runs.
• Alicia Flores took over on two outs in the top of the third. She struck out one in 1.1 innings. Madisyn Eads, Hannah Colbert and Sydni Barnes occupied the circle before Hicks returned. Michigan collected 16 hits off the Norse pitching corps.

At a Glance

• NKU attempted to avenge a 3-0 Friday loss to the Wolverines but fell behind 6-0 in the third inning and couldn't close the gap. The Wolverines amassed six runs on seven hits in the third inning.
• The Norse scored in the fourth. Kendyl McKeough propelled Tatum Biddle to third on a single to left field. Jordan Jenkins reached first base on a fielder's choice and, as McKeough was thrown out at second, Biddle scored.
• Michigan tacked on eight runs in the last two innings. 

Next Up
The Norse (7-7) play five games in the Coach B Classic at Southern Illinois, starting against No. 18 Northwestern on March 4. First pitch is at 11 a.m. at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale, Ill.