HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky softball team cannot be stopped at the moment as the Norse clinched the series sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne to push their conference winning streak to six games in a Horizon League doubleheader inside the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field on Saturday afternoon.
The six-game conference winning streak sets a new NKU Division I era record to go with being tied for the 17th longest active conference winning stretch in the nation.
THE BASICS – GAME ONE
FINAL: Northern Kentucky – 6, Purdue Fort Wayne – 2 (7 innings)
LOCATION: Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field – Highland Heights, Kentucky
RECORDS: NKU 13-11 (6-2 HL), PFW 5-22 (0-5 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Ella LeMonier went a perfect 3-for-3 to open the afternoon with one RBI, two runs scored, a steal and a walk.
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Maddie Lacer joined her with a big performance with a 2-for-4 outing that included two RBI, a run and a swipe.
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Olivia Pastin went 2-fo-4 at the plate with a RBI and a run scored.
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Trinity Robertson chipped in a 1-for-2 outing with a RBI and two bases on balls.
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Sydni Barnes added a 1-for-3 performance with one RBI and a run scored.
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Megan Lenhart also came around to score for the Norse while
Mack Brow chipped in a hit (1-for-2), respectively.
- Freshman
Brooklyn Ballis had another strong showing with a complete game victory for her third win of the season. She went all seven innings with four strikeouts and just four hits and two earned runs allowed.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was all Northern Kentucky to start off the conference clash.
- The Norse got on the board quick with a run in the bottom of the first off a RBI single by Lacer to make it a 1-0 game.
- NKU extended its lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the second with RBI hits from LeMonier, Barnes, Pastin, Lacer and Robertson to blow things open. It looked like a potential harmless inning with two outs, but Northern Kentucky went 5-for-5 with their backs against the wall with five straight RBI knocks to pull away.
- Purdue Fort Wayne tried to battle back with a run in the top of the fourth and sixth, but by then the damage was already done as NKU collected the opening game win.
THE BASICS – GAME TWO
FINAL: Northern Kentucky – 4, Purdue Fort Wayne – 0 (7 innings)
LOCATION: Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field – Highland Heights, Kentucky
RECORDS: NKU 14-11 (7-2 HL), PFW 5-23 (0-6 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Olivia Pastin and
Maddie Lacer teamed up to power the Norse to the victory. Pastin went a perfect 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored while Lacer chipped in a 1-for-3 game with a RBI.
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Jena Rhoads and
Charly Koehler added a run scored for NKU.
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Mack Brow (1-for-2) and
Megan Kincer (1-for-1) notched the Norse's other hits in the ballgame.
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Lauryn Hicks did it again with her second straight complete-game shutout of PFW. She threw all seven innings with seven strikeouts to go with just two hits allowed. For the weekend, Hicks went a perfect 2-0 with 17 punch outs over 14 scoreless innings of work.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Pastin started off the contest with a bang as she blasted a solo home run over the right center field wall to give NKU the early 1-0 lead.
- Lacer followed her up with a RBI double in the bottom of the third that plated Koehler to push the advantage to 2-0.
- Pastin gave the Norse all the insurance runs they would need as she sent another bomb to right center, this time a two-run shot that scored Rhoads, to give NKU the commanding 4-0 advantage.
- It was all Hicks would need to complete the shutout victory.
NEXT UP
A big Tuesday is planned in Highland Heights on April 2 as the Norse play host to the Louisville Cardinals at Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field. First pitch is set for 5 PM ET and admission to the in-state battle is free of charge. The game will also be played in front of a national audience on ESPN+.
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