Photo Credit: Tamera Adderley - Detroit Mercy Athletics
DETROIT – For the second time in as many days, the Northern Kentucky softball program saw a historic performance out of their pitcher in the circle as
Alicia Flores threw the second no-hitter of NKU's NCAA Division I era in a victory over Horizon League foe Detroit Mercy on Saturday afternoon.
For the day, the Norse defeated the Titans by a 5-2 margin in the opener and followed it up with the 6-0 no-hit victory in the final game of the series. Northern Kentucky captured the three-game sweep over its conference foe and won its second straight Horizon series to put itself right back into the race for the conference championships.
On the weekend,
Lauryn Hicks and
Alicia Flores combined for 14 hitless innings in their two starts to go with 29 strikeouts. Hicks also picked up the save in the opening contest on Saturday, with another two hitless innings to go with five punchouts. The two no-nos were the first in the NKU Division I era and they happened on back-to-back days.
GAME ONE - THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 5, Detroit Mercy – 2 (7 innings)
LOCATION: Buysse Ballpark – Detroit, Michigan
RECORDS: NKU 13-26 (8-7 HL), UDM 3-28 (2-14 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Not to be overshadowed,
Madisyn Eads had a day in the circle in the opener with a career-best tying eight strikeouts over five innings. She allowed just two runs (both earned) to pick up her fourth win of the season.
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Lauryn Hicks got the save as she slammed the door over the final two innings of the contest. She retired five of the six batters she faced on strikeouts over her two hitless innings.
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Kayla Shymkewich paced the Norse attack with a 2-for-3 opening game that included two home runs, three RBI, two runs scored and a walk.
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Megan Kincer added to the run total with two RBI off a 1-for-3 game at the dish.
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Ella LeMonier also picked up a stolen base.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Detroit Mercy got on the board right away with a run in the bottom of the first to make it a 1-0 game.
- NKU answered right back with two runs in the top of the third and fourth to take a 4-1 lead.
- The Titans battled back with a run in the bottom half of the fourth to make it 4-2.
- The Norse added an insurance run in the top of the sixth to push their advantage to 5-2.
- Detroit Mercy was shut out over the final two frames as NKU collected the victory.
GAME TWO – THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 6, Detroit Mercy – 0 (7 innings)
LOCATION: Buysse Ballpark – Detroit, Michigan
RECORDS: NKU 14-26 (9-7 HL), UDM 3-29 (2-15 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Alicia Flores got the win with the historic performance in the circle as she went seven hitless innings to go with 13 strikeouts for her fifth victory of the season.
- On the offensive side, the middle of the order was unstoppable as the Norse were led by
Jena Rhoads (3-for-3, home run, two RBI, two runs scored, one walk),
Ella LeMonier (2-for-4, one RBI, two runs scored),
Megan Lenhart (1-for-3, one RBI, one run) and
Maddie Lacer (1-for-3, one RBI). The two four hitters in the order combined to go 7-for-13 (.538) in the game.
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Megan Kincer also added a RBI on a 1-for-3 contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was all NKU in this one as the Norse scored two in the top of the first, two in the third and another two in the fifth to seal the 6-0 victory.
NEXT UP
There isn't much rest for the Norse as NKU will welcome in-state foe Kentucky to Frank Ignatius Grein Field for a clash with the Wildcats on Tuesday, April 18. First pitch is set for 5 PM ET and admission is free to the contest. For those unable to attend, the game will be also streamed nationwide on ESPN+.
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