HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – In the pouring rain in Highland Heights, things looked dire for Northern Kentucky University Norse Softball as they entered the bottom of the seventh without a run and just one hit on the day.
The Norse and Colonels were battling in a pitchers' duel that saw EKU take an early 1-0 advantage in the first, followed by five scoreless innings from both sides. Eastern Kentucky doubled their lead in the top of the seventh, giving NKU work to do at the plate with three outs remaining. After an RBI double from
Stella Wulker cut the Colonel lead to one, reigning Horizon League Player of the Week
Brielle DiMemmo stepped up and delivered her first home run of the season, creeping just over the left field wall, sending the Norse dugout into a frenzy.
The magical moment extended the Norse winning streak to four games, as they now look ahead to this weekend's upcoming series – a rematch of last year's conference championship with Cleveland State.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 3, Eastern Kentucky – 2
LOCATION: Frank Ignatius Grein Field - Highland Heights, Ky.
RECORDS: NKU 15-14 (6-0 HL), EKU 22-8 (5-0 ASUN)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Brooklyn Ballis dominated in the circle with a complete game victory, allowing just three hits, two walks, and two runs against an EKU offense averaging 5.8 runs per contest.
- Against EKU ace pitcher Victoria Byrum, who entered Tuesday's contest with a 1.65 ERA, the Norse registered just three hits, and just one before the seventh inning. DiMemmo played the hero with her home run, finishing 1-3 at the plate with two RBI.
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Stella Wulker went 1-3 with an RBI double.
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Olivia Pastin finished 1-3 with a single.
NORSE NOTES
- The two sides entered the game on red-hot streaks, with EKU going 14-2 over their last 16 games and NKU winning seven of their last eight. The win moved NKU (15-14) to over .500 on the season for the first time since March 1.
- After EKU scored in the top of the first, the Colonels went down in order each time they went up to the plate until the seventh inning. Ballis's only blip during the five-inning stretch was an infield single in the top of the first, but
Mack Brow turned a double play later in the inning to shut down the Eastern Kentucky offense.
- Freshman catcher
Brooke Keltner saw action for the first time in two weeks, as she had been ruled out. Keltner entered for Ginn to pinch hit in the fourth and caught the final three innings.
NEXT UP
Northern Kentucky University Norse Softball takes on Cleveland State at home this weekend, with first pitch for Friday's opener set for 3 PM.
FOLLOW NKU NORSE SOFTBALL
Get in the game and follow Northern Kentucky's NCAA Division I softball team through @NKUNorseSB on Twitter, @nkusoftball on Instagram, nkunorsesballon Facebook and subscribe to the NKU Norse Youtube channel.
