LOUISVILLE – The Northern Kentucky softball program had one of its best offensive performances in program history in a 14-7 defeat of the MAC's Toledo to open the final day of the Cardinal Classic at Ulmer Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Norse followed it up in the nightcap with a hard-fought loss to the ACC's Louisville by a 2-0 margin to close out the tournament.
 

GAME ONE - THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 14, Toledo – 7 (7 innings)
LOCATION: Ulmer Stadium – Louisville, Kentucky
RECORDS: NKU 3-11 (0-0 HL), Toledo 3-9 (0-0 MAC) 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 
- Trinity Robertson, Maddie Lacer, Jena Rhoads and Brielle DiMemmo paced the Norse attack in the big win. Robertson went 1-for-5 with a game-best three RBI to go with a run scored. Lacer hit 1-for-3 at the dish with two RBI and two runs scored. Rhoads also added two RBI with a 2-for-4 performance that included two runs scored. DiMemmo hit 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored.
- Ella LeMonier finished with a game-high three runs scored to go with a stolen base.
- Sydni Barnes (RBI, two runs) and Tatum Biddle (RBI, two runs) also contributed for the Norse.
- Kaylee McGinn pinched hit in the contest and blasted her second career home run to finish a perfect 1-for-1 with a RBI and a run scored.
- Alicia Flores picked up the win in the circle with four innings that included six hits, five runs (just three earned) and four strikeouts.
- Lauryn Hicks threw a scoreless 2.2 innings in relief with five hits and three punchouts.
- The 14 runs scored were the most by Northern Kentucky in a game since Feb. 12, 2022 and the outburst is also tied for second all-time for most runs scored in a game during the NKU NCAA Division I era.
- NKU improved to 3-1 all-time against Toledo, dating back to 2013.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
- The Norse exploded for eight runs in the top of the first inning. A Lacer two RBI single was followed by a two RBI single by DiMemmo, a Rhoads two RBI double and two more runs scored by Barnes and LeMonier to make it 8-0 NKU.
- A three-run RBI triple by Robertson extended the NKU lead to 11-0 in the top of the third.
- Toledo tried to fight back with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to make it 11-5.
- Rhoads scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth to make it 12-5 Norse.
- In the top of the sixth, McGinn ripped her homer to go with a run scored by LeMoiner late in the inning to make it 14-5.
- Toledo scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, but it was too little, too late as Northern Kentucky collected the 14-7 victory.
 
 
GAME TWO - THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 0, Louisville – 2 (7 innings)
LOCATION: Ulmer Stadium – Louisville, Kentucky
RECORDS: NKU 4-11 (0-0 HL), UL 14-6 (0-0 ACC) 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 
- Jena Rhoads (1-for-1, BB), Sydni Barnes (1-for-2, BB) and Ella LeMonier (1-for-3) picked up hits for the Norse in the contest.
- The game was split in the circle between Lauryn Hicks and Alicia Flores. Hicks went two innings and allowed three hits along with no earned runs to go with a strikeout. Flores threw four innings and also allowed just three hits along with two runs (both unearned).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
- It was a scoreless contest between the Norse and Cardinals through the first three innings of play.
- Louisville broke through with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 2-0 lead.
- Both defenses stood strong as neither squad scored the rest of the way as the Cardinals closed out the 2-0 victory.
 
 
NEXT UP 
The Norse won't have long to rest as NKU heads South for six games over the next week down in Florida. Northern Kentucky will get the week underway with a clash against Jacksonville University on Wednesday, March 8. The Norse are then entered into the UNF Invitational that runs Friday, March 10 through Sunday, March 12.
 
 
FOLLOW NKU NORSE SOFTBALL 
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