INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Northern Kentucky University Norse softball kicked off its final series of the 2026 regular season on Friday, taking on IU Indy in a doubleheader. The Norse entered the day sitting in second place in the Horizon League standings, and stayed firmly in that spot with a pair of victories over the Jaguars.
THE BASICS – GAME ONE
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 4, IU Indy 3
LOCATION: IU Indy Softball Complex – Indianapolis, Ind.
RECORDS: NKU: 21-23 (9-7 HL) | IU Indy: 7-38 (4-12 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– Northern Kentucky opened the scoring in the first, but the Jaguars took the lead in the bottom half with a two-run home run. NKU notched three late runs, including two in the sixth, and staved off a late comeback effort from IU Indy to win 4-3.
– NKU threw two pitchers in the contest, with
Alicia Flores getting the start and throwing 4.1 innings of two-run ball. She was relieved by
Makaree Chapman in the fifth, who pitched the rest of the contest and allowed only one run, and moved to 7-11 on the season with the victory.
– Northern Kentucky's five hits in the contest came off the bats of two players:
Mack Brow, who finished 3-3 with a walk, an RBI, a run, and a stolen base, and
Peyton Mueller-Stenz, who batted 2-3 with a run scored with a double.
THE BASICS – GAME TWO
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 7, IU Indy – 4
LOCATION: IU Indy Softball Complex – Indianapolis, Ind.
RECORDS: NKU: 22-23 (10-7 HL) | IU Indy: 7-38 (4-13 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– Like game one, the Norse again found themselves in an early hole, this time due to a three-run Jaguar first inning. NKU responded, though, scoring seven unanswered runs while not allowing another run until the sixth inning.
– In game two, the Norse threw three pitchers, as
Abigail Byrd started in the circle, but was pulled after a 39-pitch, 3-run first inning.
Kyndall Ford earned her second win in as many weeks, throwing four scoreless frames while moving to 2-1 on the season. Chapman was called upon again to close the game out and allowed two hits and a run in two innings to secure the Norse victory.
– The Norse recorded nine hits in game two, with six of those being extra-base hits. Northern Kentucky drew one walk and left five runners on.
– Mueller-Stenz had another big game, batting 2-34 with a homer and a double, scoring twice while driving in a pair.
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Jena Rhoads also drove in two with a two-RBI single, batting 1-4.
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Kenzie Gulley batted 2-4 with a double and a run scored.
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Eleanor Megall recorded a pinch-hit RBI-double, also scoring a run.
NEXT UP
Northern Kentucky wraps up the regular season on Saturday, taking on the Jaguars in the series finale. The Norse will secure the #2 seed in the Horizon League Championship with a win or with a Detroit Mercy victory in either of the Titans' games tomorrow.
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.
