YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Northern Kentucky softball program's storybook run in the Horizon League Tournament came to a bittersweet end as the Norse fell in the deciding game of the conference championships by a 6-1 margin to Cleveland State.
NKU dropped its tournament opener, but went on a record five wins in a row to advance to their second consecutive Horizon League Championship.
With their standout showings,
Sydni Barnes,
Lauryn Hicks,
Ella LeMonier and
Olivia Pastin were all awarded with All-Tournament Team honors.
THE BASICS – GAME ONE
FINAL: Northern Kentucky – 5, Cleveland State – 4 (7 innings)
LOCATION: YSU Softball Complex – Youngstown, Ohio
RECORDS: NKU 27-21 (14-10 HL), CSU 21-24 (14-10 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Ella LeMonier led the charge on offense with a 2-for-3 day that included one RBI, one run scored, one triple and a walk.
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Maddie Lacer (1-for-2, one RBI, one base on balls),
Trinity Robertson (1-for-4, one RBI),
Mack Brow (1-for-1, one RBI, one base on balls) and
Jena Rhoads (one RBI, one run) also knocked in runs for the Norse.
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Tatum Biddle (2-for-4, one run scored) and
Sydni Barnes (2-for-4) chipped in strong efforts as well.
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Brielle DiMemmo (1-for-4, one run scored) and
Lexy Morris (one run) both came around to score.
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Lauryn Hicks picked up the win in the circle, her 13
th of the season, with seven strong innings of work. She posted nine strikeouts and allowed just five hits, which led to four earned runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Norse got the scoring started with a three-run top of the third. LeMonier tripled to drive in Biddle, Rhoads put the ball in play to plate LeMonier and Lacer rounded things out with a RBI single up the middle to score Rhoads to give NKU a 3-0 lead.
- Cleveland State answered back with a run in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 3-1 game.
- Northern Kentucky struck again off a RBI single to center field by Brow to push its advantage back to 4-1.
- The Vikings tied the game in the bottom half of the frame off a three-run blast to knot things at 4-4.
- It didn't take long for NKU to respond as the Norse dropped a run right away in the top of the seventh to retake a 5-4 advantage.
- Hicks and the Norse defense slammed the door in the bottom of the seventh to collect the 5-4 victory.
THE BASICS – GAME TWO
FINAL: Northern Kentucky – 1, Cleveland State – 6 (7 innings)
LOCATION: YSU Softball Complex – Youngstown, Ohio
RECORDS: NKU 27-22 (14-10 HL), CSU 22-24 (14-10 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Sydni Barnes posted the lone Norse RBI in the contest off a 1-for-3 showing with a double.
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Ella LeMonier continued her strong tournament with a 1-for-4 effort that included a run scored.
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Olivia Pastin (1-for-3) and
Trinity Robertson (1-for-1, two walks) posted NKU's other hits in the game.
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Madisyn Eads took the tough loss in the circle as the senior hurler threw 5.1 innings with three strikeouts. She allowed just five hits which led to three earned runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Norse jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Barnes doubled to left field that brought LeMonier around to score in the top of the first.
- Cleveland State responded with a run in the bottom of the third to tie things at 1-1.
- The Vikings broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-1 edge.
- Northern Kentucky couldn't get anything going as Cleveland State closed out the win.
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