GREEN BAY, Wis. – The storybook and record-setting season for the Northern Kentucky softball program continues as the Norse advanced to the Horizon League Championship for the first time in program history off a thrilling 4-2, extra-inning victory over No. 1 seed Oakland on Friday afternoon.
With the win, the Norse will play in the conference championship game on Saturday, May 13 at 1 PM ET. NKU will enter the final round a perfect 3-0 in tournament play and will need to be beat twice to get eliminated from the championship. The championship will be played in front of a national audience on ESPN+.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 4, Oakland – 2 (8 innings)
LOCATION: King Park – Green Bay, Wisconsin
RECORDS: NKU 22-29 (13-9 HL), OAK 20-20 (14-7 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Standout senior
Lauryn Hicks had another big game in the circle as she went all eight innings and allowed just four hits and two runs (none earned) to go with eight strikeouts. Over her first two Horizon tournament appearances so far, Hicks has posted back-to-back complete games with 16 innings of work that includes 26 strikeouts. She has also allowed just five hits and one earned run.
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Brielle DiMemmo came up huge for the Norse with a 1-for-3 day that included two RBI. She also had what turned into the game-winning runs with a clutch two-RBI single in the top of the eighth to propel NKU to the victory.
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Megan Lenhart (1-for-3) and
Sydni Barnes (1-for-3) each had a RBI for Northern Kentucky, respectively.
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Tatum Biddle also had a stellar game at the dish with a 2-for-4 outing that included two runs scored.
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Megan Kincer and
Charly Koehler both came around to score for the Norse.
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Maddie Lacer (2-for-3),
Trinity Robertson (2-for-4) and
Jena Rhoads (1-for-4) also added base knocks in the win.
- The Norse went up against Oakland's Sydney Campbell in the contest, the Horizon League's Pitcher of the Year. NKU was able to record 10 hits against the standout junior, the most Campbell has allowed in a game so far this season.
- It was the second straight extra-inning victory for the Norse in the Horizon League tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Norse and Golden Grizzlies started the game off with three scoreless innings between the two programs as neither side could get much going on offense.
- NKU broke the tie in the top of the fourth as Lenhart dropped down a beautiful suicide squeeze that scored Biddle as NKU jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
- The two sides continued to be locked in a pitcher's duel, as the next run would come in the top of the seventh.
- Northern Kentucky struck again off a Barnes RBI single that plated Koehler in the seventh that was suppose to serve as an insurance run as NKU pushed its advantage to 2-0.
- Oakland had other plans as the Golden Grizzlies answered right back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to force the game to extras.
- The Norse threatened right away in the top of the eighth, and DiMemmo made the difference with a clutch two RBI single through the right side that scored Kincer and Biddle to make it a 4-2 ballgame.
- Hicks and the Norse slammed the door in the bottom of the eighth to seal their spot in the championship round.
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