Rachele Vogelpohl

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - Mallory Paine went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs as Lewis rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Northern Kentucky University, 5-3, in an elimination game at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament on Saturday.

NKU (38-19) struck for two runs in the first inning as Amanda Smith drove in Sarah King with a double and Rachele Vogelpohl followed with an RBI single. The Norse extended their lead to 3-0 in the second inning when Kara Lorenz connected for her second home run of the season.

Lewis scored four times on four hits in the third inning to take a 4-3 advantage. It remained that way until the sixth, when Paine knocked in Beth Shelus with a single to right field.

NKU had the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh after a one-out single by Shatona Campbell. Campbell was forced out at second when Lorenz hit into a fielder’s choice, and Ricki Rothbauer flew out to left field to end the game.

Lorenz went 2-for-3 to lead NKU, which is ranked No. 6 in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region poll. The Norse will find out Monday if they receive an at-large berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

NKU is the two-time defending champion of the Great Lakes Region.

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