HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky fell twice to Oakland in a Horizon League double-header Thursday at Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field. The Norse lost the first game 3-1 and the second 6-3.

The outings were NKU's first in a renovated stadium. Offseason improvements included an 8-foot vinyl chain fence and crushed brick warning track in the outfield, a 4-foot vinyl chain link fence down the lines, foul poles matching NCAA specifications and a smart water irrigation control system.

NKU and Oakland finish the series at noon Friday. 

 
GAME ONE: Oakland 3, NKU 1 
At the Plate

• The Norse out-hit the Golden Grizzlies 10-6 but left eight on base throughout.
• Jordan Jenkins went 1-for-3 with a double.
• Hannah Colbert, pinch running for Jenkins, came home on Maddie Lacer's RBI to make it a 2-1 game in the second inning.
• Olivia Pastin went 2-for-4 and Megan Lenhart went 2-for-3.

In the Circle

• Alicia Flores (2-5) struck out six and walked three in 6.1 innings. She allowed five hits and three runs.
• Lauryn Hicks replaced Flores in the top of the seventh and faced three batters. She surrendered one hit.  

At a Glance

• The Golden Grizzlies jumped ahead 2-0 in the top of the first, fueled by three hits. Cammie Brummitt delivered a two-run home run, sending the ball over the fence in left field and plating Madison Jones. Alicia Flores struck out the last batter.
• Flores picked up where she left off in the top of the second, striking out two Oakland batters.
• Jordan Jenkins doubled to right center in the bottom of the inning, notching NKU's first hit. Hannah Colbert, pinch running for Jenkins, came home on Maddie Lacer's RBI to make it a 2-1 game.
• Megan Lenhart singled to left field and reached second Trinity Robertson's single but both were stranded, keeping it a 2-1 game after four.
• Oakland loaded the bases on two outs in the top of the sixth. NKU walked in a batter and the Golden Grizzlies went ahead 3-1. Flores struck out the final batter, stranding three.
• Ella LeMonier singled up the middle to start things off for the Norse in the bottom of the seventh. Olivia Pastin followed suit with a hit, advancing to LeMonier to second. Kendyl McKeough grounded out to second base and LeMonier was thrown out at the plate.

 
GAME TWO: Oakland 6, NKU 3
At the Plate

• NKU finished with four hits, led by Kendyl McKeough. She went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
• Jordan Jenkins (1-for-2 with an RBI), Maddie Lacer (1-for-2) and Tatum Biddle (1-for-2) also notched hits.

In the Circle

• Madisyn Eads struck out two, walked two and allowed four and two runs hits in the first four innings. Lauryn Hicks (2-4) took over in the top of the fifth and absorbed the loss. Hicks struck out one, walked one, gave up four runs and allowed four hits.

At a Glance

• Jordan Jenkins' RBI-single drove in Ella LeMonier for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
• Oakland's Madison Jones knotted the score in the top of the third with a solo home run. It was the first of three hits for the Golden Grizzlies, which jumped ahead 2-1 on Jen Krizka's RBI-double to right center.
• The Norse regained the lead on Kendyl McKeough's two-run home run on two outs in the bottom of the fourth. She drove home Olivia Pastin, who'd walked.
• Oakland rallied in the top of the sixth with three hits and four runs. The Golden Grizzlies usurped the lead (6-3) and held on for the win. 

Next Up
The Norse host Oakland in the third game of the series at noon Friday.