HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky softball program went on a wild seventh inning comeback attempt that included a homer and three runs in total in the final frame, but the Norse ran out of time as visiting Eastern Kentucky escaped with the 5-4 non-conference victory at Frank Ignatius Grein Field on Tuesday evening.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 4, Eastern Kentucky – 5 (7 innings)
LOCATION: Frank Ignatius Grein Field – Highland Heights, Kentucky
RECORDS: NKU 9-22 (4-3 HL), EKU 17-17 (1-8 ASUN)
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 
- Kayla Shymkewich had the late game heroics in the comeback attempt as she finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run, two RBI, a run scored and a walk. It was the first homer of the freshman's collegiate career and the two hits also set a new career-high for most in a game.
- Brielle DiMemmo added a RBI for the Norse with a 2-fo-3 day at the dish while Tatum Biddle also picked up a RBI off a 1-for-4 performance.
- Ella LeMonier (1-for-4), Jena Rhoads (1-for-4) and Hannah Colbert all crossed the plate for NKU in the contest.
- Trinity Robertson (1-for-3) and Megan Kincer (1-for-3) also posted hits in the game.
- Alicia Flores had an effective outing in the circle as she went six innings in relief that included seven hits and two runs allowed (both earned) along with a strikeout.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
- Eastern Kentucky struck right away with three runs in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead.
- EKU got on the board again with a run in the top of the fourth and another in the top of the fifth to push its advantage to 5-0.
- That's when the Norse started to fight back as NKU answered with a run of its own in the bottom half of the fifth off a RBI single by DiMemmo to make it 5-1.
- It was then time for NKU to rally and the Norse did just that with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, after a RBI by Biddle and a two-run, two-out homer by Shymkewich as NKU made it a 5-4 game. EKU would then bring in its closer who was able to record the final out of the contest as the Colonels got away with the 5-4 win.
 
NEXT UP 
The Norse head to Robert Morris for an important Horizon League series this weekend. NKU and RMU will play a single game on Friday, April 7 at 3 PM ET, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, April 8 at 1 PM. Northern Kentucky is currently ranked fourth in the Horizon at 4-3 in league play. Robert Morris enters the weekend in sixth at 2-2 in conference action.
 
 
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