Rachele Vogelpohl

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - A pair of shutout performances led the Northern Kentucky University softball team to a sweep of Saint Joseph’s on Sunday, and the Norse now stand a perfect 26-0 this season.

In the opener, Krystal Lewallen tossed a four-hitter as NKU posted a 5-0 win. Lewallen struck out 12 batters and improved to 13-0 this season. She also became the first pitcher in Norse history to reach the 60-win plateau with a career record of 60-14 in three seasons.

Lewallen has recorded seven consecutive shutouts, and the junior right-hander has not allowed an earned run during her last 75 innings on the mound. In addition, Lewallen has struck out at least 10 batters in each of her last seven starts.

Rachele Vogelpohl was 2-for-2 and drove in a run for NKU in the opener. Ricki Rothbauer went 2-for-4 with a run batted in, and Becky Napier added two hits and an RBI for the Norse, who improved to 4-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

NKU used a 12-hit attack to key an 8-0 win in the second game. Rothbauer - who is hitting .469 this season - was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Sara Becker added a two-run single. The Norse scored seven times in the second inning to seal the win for senior pitcher Emily Breitholle, who improved to 9-0 and finished with five strikeouts.

Breitholle upped her career victory total to 58, which is second in Norse history.

Megan Owens, Stephanie Leimbach and Sarah King each added two hits for NKU, which is off to the best start in its history. The Norse, winners of 26 straight, are looking to become just the 13th team in NCAA Division II history to win 30 consecutive games in a season.

The longest single-season win streak in NCAA Division II history is 40, set in 1995 by Kennesaw State.

NKU will play at West Liberty (W. Va.) State at 3 p.m. Wednesday in a non-conference doubleheader. The Norse return home next weekend to face defending GLVC Tournament champion Lewis at noon Saturday at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field.