Megan Owens drove in four runs Thursday

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Megan Owens went 2-for-4 with a homer and four runs batted in as top-seeded Northern Kentucky University posted a 9-1 win over Ferris State on Thursday in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional.

Heather Cotner was 3-for-4 and scored a pair of runs for NKU, which improved to 51-0. The Norse rallied from an early 1-0 deficit by plating two runs in the third inning, and NKU starter Krystal Lewallen allowed just one hit to go 28-0 this season.

Lewallen, a junior from Crestwood, Ky., also had nine strikeouts.

NKU took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning when Angie Lindeman hit a pitch from Rachel Chartier off the right-field wall to drive in Ricki Rothbauer from second base. Lindeman went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Owens drilled a three-run homer over the wall in left field in the fifth inning to extend NKU’s lead to 6-1. It was the second homer of the season for Owens, a senior catcher.

The Norse added three more runs in the sixth to seal the victory. Owens and Becky Napier each had RBI singles, and NKU wrapped up the win after Rothbauer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for an eight-run rule victory.

NKU’s Stephanie Leimbach went 2-for-3 and extended her hitting streak to 31 games. The 31-game hitting streak is the fifth-longest in Division II history.

Rachele Vogelpohl added three hits for the Norse, who will play at 3 p.m. Friday against second-seeded Southern Illinois at Edwardsville (41-13) in the six-team, double-elimination event.

NKU’s 51 consecutive wins are the most in collegiate softball history. The Norse are the defending NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region champions.