HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University softball team, now 29-2 after winning four of five games this past weekend at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/Great Lakes Valley Conference Challenge, is closing in on a single-season record for victories.
The most wins by an NKU softball team is 36, set in both 2002 and 2003. The Norse will play host to both West Liberty State College and West Virginia State College in doubleheaders this week, and then meet Lincoln (Mo.) University and Quincy University this weekend for road doubleheaders.
NKU is currently 4-0 in the GLVC and tied for first place with Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
Krystal Lewallen hurled a four-hit shutout last Saturday and became NKU’s all-time career leader in strikeouts as the Norse posted a 2-0 victory over Grand Valley State University. Lewallen, a sophomore pitcher from Crestwood, Ky., struck out 11 Grand Valley State batters to pass Kim Bina on NKU’s career strikeout list.
Lewallen enters this week with 334 career strikeouts, and she is 17-1 this season with a 0.18 earned run average. Lewallen leads the GLVC in victories, ERA and strikeouts (144).
Lewallen is also seeking to become just the second 20-game winner in NKU history.
Junior outfielder Stephanie Leimbach is batting .392 with six doubles and a triple. Sophomore second baseman Ricki Rothbauer is hitting .370, and she leads NKU with 23 runs scored and five triples. Rothbauer also has 18 runs batted in this season.
Junior first baseman Angie Lindeman leads NKU with 23 RBI, and she has six doubles and three triples. Junior pitcher Emily Breitholle is 8-1 with a 1.02 ERA, and she ranks No. 3 in Norse history with 41 career victories. She needs just one win to tie Laura Watkins for second place on the NKU all-time victory list.
NKU was ranked No. 8 nationally last week in the NCAA Division II poll. The Norse are seeking the No. 1 seed in the Great Lakes Region and the right to host the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament May 6-9.
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Krystal Lewallen |