NKU’s Megan Owens and Angie Lindeman

SALEM, Va. - Keri McKee keyed a five-run second inning with a three-run double Sunday as Kennesaw (Ga.) State ended Northern Kentucky University’s quest for a national championship with a 6-0 win over the Norse in an elimination game in the NCAA Division II World Series.

“We just didn’t string together the hits when we had to, and continue to hit,” said head coach Kathy Stewart.
 
Brittany Matthews allowed just three hits and recorded the shutout for Kennesaw State, which improved to 57-12 and advanced to the championship round against Lynn (Fla.). Lori Cassell went 2-for-4 and scored two runs for Kennesaw State, which scored the five second-inning runs against starter Emily Breitholle.

“We came here last year and were 0-2 in the tournament and our goal was to come back and win it all,” Stewart said. “The things that these girls accomplished this year, in a few weeks, will be remarkable. But, we wanted to win it all here.”
 
NKU - which posted a 5-0 win over Kennesaw State on Feb. 26 - ended its season with a 55-2 record.

“I think we had a great season, but we didn’t finish how we planned on or wanted to,” said junior pitcher Krystal Lewallen.

In first game of the day, Aimee Murch tossed a five-hit shutout and struck out 12 batters as Lynn (Fla.) snapped the longest winning streak in collegiate softball history with a 1-0 win over NKU.

NKU had posted 55 consecutive victories which dated back to the first game of the year on Feb. 11. That mark shattered the previous Division II record of 40 consecutive wins.

Danielle Curcio accounted for the only run of the game with a third-inning home run off Lewallen (32-1). Curcio’s homer was a drive over the fence in left-center field.

The Norse also finished the season with the all-time record for winning percentage. The record of 55-2 (.965 winning percentage) eclipses the previous mark (.947) set by Coker in 1998.

Lewallen was named to the All-Tournament Team at the NCAA Division II World Series after winning twice in the event.