Krystal Lewallen is now 25-0

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - Krystal Lewallen recorded her 25th victory of the season with a two-hit shutout as the Northern Kentucky University softball team remained unbeaten with a 7-0 win over Lewis in the second round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament on Friday.

Angie Lindeman went 3-for-4 and knocked in three runs as the Norse, ranked No. 1 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, improved to 48-0 and broke Arizona’s all-time collegiate record for consecutive wins. Arizona posted a 47-game winning streak over two seasons from April 5, 1996 to March 23, 1997.

Lewallen picked up 12 strikeouts and notched her 16th shutout of the season. Stephanie Leimbach extended her hitting streak to 28 games with a single and also had two RBI for NKU.

In the first round, Rachele Vogelpohl’s grand slam highlighted a six-run second inning as NKU defeated Missouri-St. Louis, 6-1.

After Missouri-St. Louis took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a run-scoring single by Kristen Economon, NKU roared back in the bottom of the second. Heather Cotner led off the inning with a single, Sara Becker walked and Megan Owens singled to load the bases.

Vogelpohl stepped to the plate and worked the count to 3-2. She then hammered the full-count pitch from Missouri-St. Louis starter Jessica Coffey over the left-field wall for her first career grand slam to give NKU a 4-1 lead.

Sarah King capped the inning with a two-run single as the Norse extended their advantage to 6-1. Emily Breitholle scattered seven hits and went the distance to improve to 18-0 this season. She also had eight strikeouts.

Ricki Rothbauer set an NKU single-season record with her ninth triple in the sixth inning. The junior second baseman also broke the Norse single-season record with her 76th hit of 2005.

NKU, which has never won a GLVC Tournament title, will play third-seeded Wisconsin-Parkside (31-21) at 3 p.m. Saturday. If the Norse win that game, they will advance to Sunday’s championship round of the double-elimination event and need one win to capture the title.

If Wisconsin-Parkside defeats NKU, the Norse will be forced to play an elimination game at 5 p.m.