Becky Napier drove in five runs in Game 1

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Becky Napier went 2-for-3 with five runs batted in as the unbeaten Northern Kentucky University softball team posted an 8-0 win over Bellarmine in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

NKU completed the sweep with a 2-0 victory in the nightcap. The Norse improved to 36-0 overall, 10-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

NKU is now within four victories of tying the longest winning streak in NCAA Division II history. The longest win streak in NCAA Division II history is 40, which was set in 1995 by Kennesaw State.

NKU is just the fifth team in Division II history to win 36 consecutive games.

Krystal Lewallen hurled a five-inning no-hitter in the opener and finished with 10 strikeouts for NKU. It was the second straight no-hit performance for Lewallen, who improved to 19-0 this spring. Earlier in the week, Lewallen tossed a 3-0 no-hitter at Findlay.

The Norse jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one inning and scored four more runs in the second to coast past Bellarmine. Napier’s three-run double highlighted the second inning for NKU. She also added a two-run single in the first inning.

Ricki Rothbauer went 2-for-3 and scored two runs in the opener. Sarah King scored twice and also added an RBI.

In the second game, Emily Breitholle (13-0) scattered seven hits and picked up the shutout for NKU. Rothbauer’s RBI single snapped a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning. Rachele Vogelpohl went 2-for-3 and scored a run for the Norse.

NKU’s Stephanie Leimbach collected singles in both contests to extend her hittting streak to 16 consecuitive games.

NKU will play host to Ohio Dominican at 3 p.m. Tuesday. The Norse are ranked No. 2 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll.

NKU is also ranked No. 1 in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region poll.