KENOSHA, Wis. - Meloney Strohbusch’s run-scoring single in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday gave the University of Wisconsin-Parkside softball team a 3-2 win over Northern Kentucky University in the first game of a doubleheader.
Kim Dean opened the seventh inning with a triple off NKU starter Krystal Lewallen, and Strohbusch followed with an RBI single to left field. Wisconsin-Parkside - which had tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth inning on Jennifer Koeser’s home run - snapped NKU’s 10-game win streak with the victory.
In the nightcap, NKU’s Emily Breitholle hurled a five-hitter as the Norse defeated Wisconsin-Parkside, 2-1. Megan Owens had two RBI to lead NKU, which improved to 34-12 overall, 14-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
NKU is now tied for second place in the GLVC standings with Lewis University (14-4 GLVC), and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville - which swept a doubleheader at the University of Indianapolis on Saturday - is in sole possession of first place with a 15-3 GLVC record.
NKU can still earn the No. 1 seed in the GLVC Tournament if the Norse sweep their doubleheader with Lewis on Sunday, and if SIUE loses a game at Saint Joseph’s College. NKU will hold the tiebreaker with SIUE if it sweeps Lewis and would get the No. 1 seed.
If SIUE sweeps Saint Joseph’s, the Cougars will be the No. 1 seed in the GLVC Tournament, and either NKU or Lewis would be the No. 2 seed.
Emily Breitholle