YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – One thing is for certain for fans and supporters who took in this weekend's Horizon League series between Northern Kentucky and Youngstown State.
You certainly got your money's worth.
The Norse and Penguins closed out their thrilling conference series with a doubleheader on Saturday as NKU collected an 8-5 win in the opener, followed by a 11-9 Youngstown State victory in the series-finale.
THE BASICS – GAME ONE
FINAL: Northern Kentucky – 8, Youngstown State – 5 (7 innings)
LOCATION: YSU Softball Complex – Dayton, Ohio
RECORDS: NKU 18-16 (11-6 HL), YSU 28-14 (14-3 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Ella LeMonier got her insane day started with a 2-for-5 performance that include three RBI and two runs scored.
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Jena Rhoads (2-fo-4, one RBI, one stolen base),
Olivia Pastin (2-for-4, one RBI, one steal),
Megan Kincer (2-for-3, one RBI) and
Trinity Robertson (1-for-4, one RBI) also drove in a run apiece for the Norse, respectively.
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Maddie Lacer (1-for-3, one run scored, one swipe),
Tatum Biddle (1-for-2, one run, two walks),
Brielle DiMemmo (1-for-3, one run scored),
Sydni Barnes (1-for-2, one run, one stolen base) and
Kayla Shymkewich all came around to score.
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Madisyn Eads picked up the win in the circle, her fourth of the season, as she went 4.2 innings with three strikeouts. She allowed just six hits and three earned runs.
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Lauryn Hicks recorded the save as she finished the final 2.1 innings of the game with four strikeouts. She is now second overall in the conference in the category with four saves on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Northern Kentucky jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second as both LeMonier and Rhoads drove in two runs apiece.
- The Norse added to their lead with two more runs in the top of the fourth to make it a 6-0 game.
- NKU added another run in the top of the fifth, but Youngstown State dropped three runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut the Norse's lead to 7-3.
- Northern Kentucky got another run of insurance in the top of the sixth to give the Norse a 8-3 advantage.
- Youngstown State pushed two runs across in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late as Northern Kentucky closed out the 8-5 victory.
THE BASICS – GAME TWO
FINAL: Northern Kentucky – 9, Youngstown State – 11 (7 innings)
LOCATION: YSU Softball Complex – Dayton, Ohio
RECORDS: NKU 18-17 (11-7 HL), YSU 29-14 (15-3 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Ella LeMonier continued her red-hot weekend with a 3-for-4 game that featured three RBI and a run scored. She finished just a home run shy from the cycle in the contest.
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Tatum Biddle also had a huge series-finale with a 1-for-3 effort to go with three RBI and a run.
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Olivia Pastin chipped in a 2-for-4 showing with a RBI and run scored.
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Mack Brow drove in a run for the Norse off a 1-for-2 game at the dish. She also came around to score in the contest.
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Jena Rhoads (1-for-3, one walk),
Maddie Lacer (also 1-for-3 with a base on balls),
Brielle DiMemmo (1-for-4),
Sydni Barnes (1-for-4) and
Kayla Shymkewich all scored a run for NKU.
- The nine runs scored and 13 hits by NKU tied a season-best in both categories for most in a game so far this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Youngstown State jumped out to an early 6-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first, two in the second and three more in the third.
- The Norse started to answer back with a run in the top of the fourth, but the Penguins responded right away with one of their own in the bottom half of the frame to make it 7-1.
- That is when the Norse exploded with eight runs in the top of the fifth to take a 9-7 lead. Northern Kentucky recorded eight runs off of eight hits and one walk. NKU sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning.
- Once again though, Youngstown State was down for the fight as the Penguins dropped four runs in the bottom of the fifth to retake a 11-9 edge.
- Neither side could get any runs around to score over the final two innings to give YSU the 11-9 victory.
NEXT UP
Northern Kentucky returns to Highland Heights for a non-conference clash with Bellarmine on Wednesday, April 24. First pitch is set for 5 PM ET inside the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field and admission to the contest is free of charge.
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