Becky Napier

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The streak is at 32 straight wins for the unbeaten Northern Kentucky University softball team after yet another doubleheader sweep on Sunday.

NKU rallied from an early 2-0 deficit in the opener to post a 5-3 win over Wisconsin-Parkside at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field. The Norse completed the sweep with a 9-1 victory in the nightcap and extended their school-record winning streak to 32 games.

NKU improved to 32-0 overall, 8-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Norse are ranked No. 2 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll.

NKU became just the eighth team in NCAA Division II softball history to win 32 consecutive games in a season. The longest win streak in NCAA Division II history is 40, which was set in 1995 by Kennesaw State.

Becky Napier’s run-scoring double in the fifth inning snapped a 2-2 tie, and Megan Owens later hit a two-run homer over the fence in left field to extend NKU’s lead to 5-2.

Sarah King was 2-for-3 and scored two runs for NKU, while Napier went 2-for-3 with two RBI. NKU pitcher Krystal Lewallen, who gave up three earned runs in seven innings, improved to 17-0 and had five strikeouts.

Wisconsin-Parkside scored two runs in the first inning off Lewallen, who had not allowed an earned run in her previous 98 innings on the mound going into Sunday.

In the nightcap, Heather Cotner went 2-for-3 with three RBI as NKU rolled to its 32nd straight win. The Norse scored five runs in the first inning and later added four in the fourth to seal the victory. King, Angie Lindeman and Stephanie Leimbach each scored two runs for NKU.

Senior pitcher Emily Breitholle scattered four hits and finished with five strikeouts to pick up her 11th win of the spring.

NKU will play host to Indianapolis at 3 p.m. Tuesday, and the Norse will travel to Findlay for a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Thursday.