HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University Norse softball opened its home season on Tuesday, taking on Valparaiso in a doubleheader. The Norse took down the Beacons in a 6-0 shutout in game one before a 3-2 victory to close the doubleheader.
THE BASICS – GAME ONE
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 6, Valparaiso – 0
LOCATION: Frank Ignatius Grein Field – Highland Heights, Ky.
RECORDS: NKU: 10-8 | VALPO: 9-11
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- NKU opened the scoring in game one with a two-run first, and scored four in the sixth to add some insurance. The Norse were powered by an electric performance from freshman starter
Makaree Chapman, who pitched a complete game shutout while allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out four.
- NKU tallied eight hits and one walk with a pair of HBPs.
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Kenzie Gulley led the Norse with a 3-3 day at the plate, adding a pair of RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
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Mack Brow and
Jena Rhoads each finished 1-4 with a run scored, while the latter had a double.
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Brielle DiMemmo went 1-3 with a run and an RBI.
THE BASICS – GAME TWO
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 3, Valparaiso – 2
LOCATION: Frank Ignatius Grein Field – Highland Heights, Ky.
RECORDS: NKU: 11-8 | VALPO: 9-12
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- NKU opened up the scoring with a pair of runs in the first inning. The Beacons scored their first runs of the day in the fifth inning of game two, coming in the form of a game-tying two-run homer.
Lexy Morris brought home
Peyton Mueller-Stenz in the sixth with an RBI single as the Norse took the lead, and
Makaree Chapman sat the Beacons down in order in the seventh as the Norse opened up home play to a perfect start.
- Offensively, Mueller-Stenz led the way for a Norse offense that tallied six hits and three walks. She finished 2-3 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.
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Lexy Morris finished 2-3 on the day with her game-winning RBI.
- DiMemmo (1-2, RBI) and Rhoads (1-3) were the only other Norse to record a hit.
NEXT UP
Northern Kentucky hosts the NKU Invitational from Friday to Sunday, welcoming Northwestern, Northern Iowa, and Detroit Mercy to town.
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.