Amanda Smith lines a two-run single vs. SIUE

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Ricki Rothbauer smacked a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh inning to drive in Kara Lorenz with the winning run as Northern Kentucky University defeated Southern Illinois at Edwardsville, 2-1, in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

SIUE pitcher Sabra McCune retired the first two batters in the seventh, but she hit Lorenz with a pitch to bring Rothbauer to the plate. A passed ball advanced Lorenz to second, and Rothbauer then lined a shot down the left-field line to drive in Lorenz and give NKU the walkoff victory.

Rothbauer, a senior second baseman and an NCAA Division II first team All-American last season, now has seven doubles and 16 runs batted in this spring. She is also hitting .336 this season.

Rachele Vogelpohl hit a solo home run over the left-field fence in the fourth inning to give NKU a 1-0 lead. SIUE, however, tied the score at 1-all with a run in the fifth inning.

McCune allowed just two hits and finished with 10 strikeouts for SIUE, which is ranked No. 5 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. She did allow four walks and also hit two batters.

NKU freshman pitcher Amanda Smith scattered five hits and picked up her 12th win of the season.

In the nightcap, SIUE scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh inning to snap a 2-all tie and held on for a 3-2 win. Ashley Price opened the seventh with a walk, and she was replaced at first base by pinch-runner Katy Biggs. After Biggs advanced to second on a sacrifice, Amy Rogers stepped to the plate with one out.

Biggs manufactured a run for SIUE by stealing third and scoring on a throwing error by NKU catcher Sarah King on the same play. McCune, who relieved starting pitcher Kaitlin Colosimo in the sixth inning, picked up the win for the Cougars.

SIUE owned a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Smith lined a bases-loaded single down the third-base line to drive in Vogelpohl and pinch-runner Jenny Weis to tie the score at 2-all. NKU later loaded the bases with two outs, but McCune retired Heather Cotner on a grounder to second to end the threat.

SIUE is 29-5 overall, 7-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. NKU is 22-12 overall, 6-6 in the GLVC.

NKU will meet Southern Indiana at noon Sunday in another GLVC doubleheader. The Screaming Eagles are 21-12 overall, 5-3 in the GLVC.

GAME 1 BOX SCORE

GAME 2 BOX SCORE