HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Heather Cotner went 2-for-3, scored two runs and had a stolen base in the nightcap Thursday as the Northern Kentucky University softball team defeated the College of Mount St. Joseph, 5-2, to complete a doubleheader sweep at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field.
Stephanie Leimbach went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored for NKU, which extended its win streak to 10 with the non-conference doubleheader sweep. NKU is now 33-11 overall.
Freshman pitcher Sarah Newland remained unbeaten (6-0) by picking up the complete-game victory. NKU built a 4-0 lead after two innings and held off Mount St. Joseph, which dropped to 19-15-1.
In the opener, NKU scored three runs in the fifth inning to snap a scoreless game and went on to post a 4-2 victory. Amanda Davidson and Molly Fachman each hit doubles during the three-run fifth inning for the Norse.
Sophomore pitcher Emily Breitholle improved to 11-5 with the win. Mount St. Joseph scored twice in the seventh inning to slice NKU’s lead to 4-2, and the Lions had runners on first and third with two out. Breitholle, however, retired Sondra Roberto for the final out to leave the runners stranded.
NKU will visit the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis University for doubleheaders this weekend, and the Norse will have a chance to wrap up the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
NKU is 13-3 in the GLVC and currently tied for first place with Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, but the Norse can wrap up the No. 1 seed and right to host the GLVC Tournament by sweeping both Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis.
If NKU wins all four games, it will earn the No. 1 seed in the GLVC Tournament due to the conference tiebreakers. The Norse play at Wisconsin-Parkside at 1 p.m. Saturday, and they will conclude the road trip with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Lewis on Sunday.
Heather Cotner