YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Northern Kentucky softball program's storybook run in the Horizon League Tournament rolls on as NKU shut out Robert Morris, 5-0 in the conference semifinals at the YSU Softball Complex on Saturday.
The Norse, who had never made a Horizon championship in their NCAA Division I era before last season, have now advanced to the title game in consecutive years under head coach
Kathryn Gleason.
Northern Kentucky will now need to take two games from Cleveland State in the Horizon League championship round on Sunday, May 12. Game one will get underway at 9:30 AM ET and if the Norse can win, they will force the deciding game at noon. Both contests will be played in front of a national audience on ESPN+.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Northern Kentucky – 5, Robert Morris – 0 (7 innings)
LOCATION: YSU Softball Complex – Youngstown, Ohio
RECORDS: NKU 26-21 (14-10 HL), RMU 20-24 (13-10 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Sydni Barnes (1-for-3, two RBI, one run scored) and
Brielle DiMemmo (1-for-2, one RBI, one run) both blasted home runs in the victory.
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Jena Rhoads (2-for-3, one RBI, one run scored, one triple) and
Maddie Lacer (one RBI, one run) also drove in runs for NKU.
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Ella LeMonier added a run scored, a stolen base and a walk.
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Mack Brow (1-for-2) recorded NKU's other base knock in the contest.
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Lauryn Hicks threw a gem in the circle as she posted seven shutout innings for the complete game. The standout senior hurler struck out a season-best 11 batters to go with just four hits allowed. It was Hicks's 12th win of the season.
- It was a long one for Norse fans and supporters as the game started at 2:30 PM ET and due to inclement weather, didn't finish until 8:30 PM.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Northern Kentucky did all of its damage in the opening frame as the Norse dropped a five-spot in the bottom of the first.
- Rhoads got the scoring started as she tripled to left center that brought around LeMonier to make it a 1-0 game.
- Lacer added to it with a perfect bunt that played Rhoads to push NKU's lead to 2-0.
- The Norse weren't done there as Barnes sent a two-run shot far over the wall, which was quickly followed by DiMemmo solo homer to give the Norse a 5-0 advantage.
- It was all Hicks and the Norse defense would need. The Norse only allowed four hits in the contest in total, and other than a bases loaded jam in the top of the third, a RMU base runner would not get further than second base in the remaining innings.
NOT DONE YET
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