EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Missy Grover tossed a two-hit shutout Friday as the University of Southern Indiana softball team defeated Northern Kentucky University, 2-0, in an elimination game in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
NKU’s Krystal Lewallen allowed just five hits and finished with six strikeouts, but Kristen Houseworth’s two-run double in the sixth inning snapped a scoreless game and lifted Southern Indiana (27-17) to the victory.
Megan Owens collected NKU’s only hits against Grover, who upped her record to 12-4. The Lady Eagles also avenged two losses to NKU earlier this season.
Earlier in the day, NKU dropped a 3-0 decision to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in the first round. The Norse entered the GLVC Tournament as the No. 2 seed, but seventh-seeded Wisconsin-Parkside pulled off the first-round surprise to send NKU into the losers’ bracket.
Jenny Rubach had two runs batted in to lead Wisconsin-Parkside. Ranger pitcher Kristen Brestan limited NKU to just four hits and recorded the shutout.
NKU is now 35-15, and the Norse are ranked No. 5 in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region poll. The top six teams in that poll will advance to the NCAA Tournament next week, and NKU still could possibly receive a berth.
Grand Valley State University is currently ranked No. 1 in the Great Lakes Region poll, while Wayne (Mich.) State University is No. 2 in the ratings.
Krystal Lewallen