INDIANAPOLIS – Northern Kentucky split its Saturday doubleheader at IUPUI, winning the first game 4-1 and falling in the finale 6-4 at IUPUI Softball Complex.
 
Along the way, the Norse reached the 20-win mark for the first time since 2019. NKU (20-25, 9-12 Horizon League) claimed the three-game series against the Jaguars by a 2-1 margin including Friday's victory.
 
Game One: NKU 4, IUPUI 1
At the Plate

• Kaylee McGinn went 1-for-1 as a pinch hitter. She hit a HR with two RBI and a run scored.
• Kendyl McKeough had a hit and an RBI.
• Jordan Jenkins was hit by a pitch and had an RBI.
• Jenna O'Hair was 1-for-2 and hit by a pitch with a sacrifice and a stolen base.
• Sydni Barnes went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Maddie Lacer and Olivia Pastin each scored a run. Lacer also had a hit.

In the Circle

• Alicia Flores  (6-7) had a strong day in the circle, allowing one run (unearned) in six innings of work. Flores struck out nine, walked two and allowed just three hits while securing the win.
• Madisyn Eads took over in the bottom of the seventh and dispatched three batters for the save. She struck out two of the three batters she faced.

At a Glance

• What started as a pitchers' duel changed dramatically in the top of the fifth when NKU's offense percolated. Maddie Lacer led off with a single to center field and advanced to second on Sydni Barnes' single. Jenna O'Hair was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Up came Kendyl McKeough, whose single up the left side scored Lacer and ensured a 1-0 Norse lead.
• Bases were still loaded when Jordan Jenkins was hit by a pitch and took first, rotating Sydni Barnes home for the 2-0 edge. The Norse had three hits and two runs in the top of the fifth, similar to their successful top of the fifth in Friday's 10-1 win over the Jaguars.
• Kaylee McGinn pinch hit in the top of the sixth and blasted a two-run home run to left field, scoring Olivia Pastin for a 4-0 Norse lead. It was McGinn's first home run this season.
• The Jaguars scored in the bottom of the sixth. Ashley Shelton reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second and was thrown out at third, but Rachael Gregory advanced to third on a Norse error and scored an unearned run.
• NKU out-hit the Jaguars 7-3.

 
Game Two: IUPUI 6, NKU 4
At the Plate

• Jordan Jenkins went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.  
• Olivia Pastin went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored.
• Maddie Lacer went 1-for-3 with an RBI-double.
• Jenna O'Hair went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice.

In the Circle

• Madisyn Eads pitched 3.1 innings and exited with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth on one out. She surrendered five hits and three runs while striking out two and walking none.
• Lauryn Hicks (4-6) took over in the bottom of the fourth and absorbed the loss. She inherited three runners; two scored. In 2.2 innings, she allowed two hits and three runs. She struck out four and walked none.

At a Glance

• The Norse amassed four runs on four hits in the top of the fourth and started things off by loading the bases. Jordan Jenkins' RBI-single plated Sydni Barnes. Olivia Pastin drove in two runs with a double and Maddie Lacer's RBI-double scored Pastin for the 4-0 lead.
• Maicey Bedrick homered in the bottom of the fourth for IUPUI. That was the first of three runs the Jaguars scored in the inning, during which the Norse changed pitchers.
• IUPUI also scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, assuming a lead it did not relinquish.
• The Norse left six on base throughout. The team had runners on second and third in the top of the seventh but couldn't bring them home.

 
Next Up
        NKU travels faces No. 9 Kentucky in Lexington at 6 p.m. Tuesday. It's the finale of a seven-game road swing.