FORT WAYNE. Ind. – The Northern Kentucky softball program has continued to stack conference wins at the most important time in the season as the Norse collected their fifth Horizon League victory in a row with a 4-0 shutout over Purdue Fort Wayne at Warrior Park on Friday afternoon.
 
With the win, Northern Kentucky now sits tied for third overall in the Horizon with a 10-7 mark in conference play.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 4, Purdue Fort Wayne – 0 (7 innings)
LOCATION: Warrior Park – Fort Wayne, Indiana
RECORDS: NKU 15-27 (10-7 HL), PFW 16-25 (8-7 HL)
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Lauryn Hicks twirled another gem in the circle with a complete game shutout that included just two hits allowed to go with six strikeouts. The Kokomo, Indiana native has now recorded a stretch of 19 scoreless innings in Horizon League play over her last four conference appearances. After her recent run of success, Hicks is now ranked fifth in the Horizon in ERA (2.71), sixth in punchouts (80) and eighth in opponent batting average (.259).
- Ella LeMonier helped pace the NKU offense with a 2-for-3 day that included two RBI.
- Jena Rhoads (1-for-4) and Maddie Lacer (2-for-2, two walks) also added a RBI apiece for the Norse.
- Sydni Barnes chipped in a big afternoon with a 2-for-3 outing with two runs scored.
- NKU runs were scored by Brielle DiMemmo, Barnes and Lacer in the contest.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- LeMonier broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth with a two-RBI triple to left field to give NKU a 2-0 lead.
- Lacer blasted her first home run of the year with a solo shot to left in the top of the sixth to make it a 3-0 game.
- NKU got another run of insurance in the top of the seventh off a Rhoads RBI single to right to push the Norse's advantage to 4-0.
- The last hit Hicks allowed was in the bottom of the third as she finished the game with four hitless frames to seal the Northern Kentucky victory.
 
NEXT UP 
The Norse and Mastodons are right back at it on Saturday, April 22 with a doubleheader set to begin at 1 PM ET at Warrior Park. Fans and supporters can follow along with the contest in real time here.
 

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