LEXINGTON – Northern Kentucky absorbed a 14-0, five-inning loss to No. 11 Kentucky, Tuesday at John Cropp Stadium.
 
The Wildcats hit five home runs on a night their pitcher, Tatum Spangler, threw a complete game shutout. She struck out five.
 
NKU (20-26) returns to Horizon League play at 4 p.m. Friday when it hosts Detroit Mercy.
 
At the Plate

• Ella LeMonier accounted for the Norse's lone hit, a leadoff single down the third base line in the top of the third inning.

In the Circle

• Starting pitcher Lauryn Hicks (4-7) went 1.1 innings. She allowed four hits and five runs, including three home runs, and walked two.
• Alicia Flores took over in the bottom of the second with one out. In 2.2 innings, she surrendered eight hits and nine runs and walked three.

At a Glance

• Lauren Johnson started UK's 12-hit, 14-run barrage with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. She hit the ball over the fence in left field and drove in Kayla Kowalik, who'd walked and stolen second.
• Kentucky pitcher Tatum Spangler struck out three of the first six Norse batters. The senior entered the game with a 1.85 ERA.
• Kentucky racked up eight runs on six hits in the bottom of the second. Emmy Blane started the deluge with a two-run home run. Vanessa Nesby, who'd reached on a bunt, came home when Blane hit the ball over the fence in center field. Kayla Kowalik hit UK's third home run beyond the fence in left field for a 5-0 lead.
• Alicia Flores came in to pitch for the Norse on one out. After Lauren Johnson was hit by a pitch, Rylea Smith brought her home with an RBI double. Erin Coffel delivered an RBI single to plate Smith for a 7-0 advantage. Pinch hitter Meeko Harrison hit a three-run home run out of the park in center field for the 10-0 lead.
• Ella LeMonier accounted for NKU's hit in the top of the third, the leadoff single down the third base line. Sophie Margelot walked and Sydni Barnes moved the runners to second and third, respectively, but they advanced no further.
• UK's Erin Coffel led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run over the fence in left field. Meeko Harrison and Victoria Fragoso followed with RBI singles to make it a 13-0 game. The Wildcats amassed four runs on four hits, capped by Jaci Babbs' sac fly RBI, ensuring a 14-0 lead that triggered the run rule.

 
Next Up
        NKU hosts Detroit Mercy in a three-game series and final home stand. The teams play at 4 p.m. Friday at Frank
        Ignatius Grein Softball Field and return for a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m.