EAST PEORIA, Ill. - Angie Lindeman’s single in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in Ricki Rothbauer with the winning run as the Northern Kentucky University softball team defeated the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 2-1, in the second round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament on Saturday.
Rothbauer had reached base on a fielder’s choice with two outs, and she advanced to second when Stephanie Leimbach singled to center. Lindeman followed with a single to left center that scored Rothbauer and ended a game that originally started Friday afternoon but was suspended due to rain.
NKU sophomore pitcher Krystal Lewallen allowed just four hits and an unearned run to pick up the victory. Lewallen, now 27-2 this season, also struck out eight batters.
Lindeman went 2-for-4 to lead the NKU offense. The top-seeded Norse (49-3) will face second-seeded Lewis University (42-10) in a winner’s bracket contest at 10 a.m. Sunday, with the victory advancing to the championship round.
The NKU/Lewis game Saturday night was suspended due to rain in the top of the second inning with no score. That game will be continued Sunday in the top of the second inning.
NKU, ranked No. 5 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, is seeking its first GLVC Tournament championship. The winner of the GLVC Tournament will receive an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Pairings for the NCAA Division II Tournament will be announced Monday (May. 3). If NKU maintains its No. 1 ranking in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region poll, the Norse will play host to the NCAA Tournament May 6-9.
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Angie Lindeman |