HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University Norse softball continued its extended homestand on Tuesday afternoon as NKU took on Evansville. The Norse and Purple Aces played a tight contest until Evansville broke it open with four runs in the fifth, and shut down the Norse bats down the stretch for an 8-3 victory. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 3, Evansville – 8
LOCATION: Frank Ignatius Grein Field - Highland Heights, Ky.
RECORDS: NKU: 16-23 (4-7 HL) | UE: 20-22 (11-10 MVC)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– NKU threw four pitchers in the contest, with Alicia Flores getting the start, but she only threw two innings before an early exit. Flores struck out three batters while allowing a pair of runs. Abigail Byrd relieved her in the third and allowed the Purple Aces to take the lead, resulting in Byrd earning the loss and dropping to 4-5 on the season. Kyndall Ford allowed five runs, but just one of them earned before Makaree Chapman finished it off with 2.2 scoreless innings. 
– The Norse finished 4-24 from the plate with one walk and a pair of HBPs.
– Jena Rhoads led the way for the Norse as she finished 2-3 with a double, a run, and a stolen base. 

NEXT UP
Northern Kentucky is back at home on Wednesday to take on Morehead State at 4 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.