NKU’s Ricki Rothbauer

SALEM, Va. - Krystal Lewallen tossed a one-hit shutout Friday night as Northern Kentucky University posted a 3-0 win over St. Mary’s (Texas) in the second round of the NCAA Division II World Series.

Lewallen, who improved to 32-0 this season, allowed just an infield single to pinch-hitter Sarah Cooper in the sixth inning. She also struck out 10 batters en route to recording her 20th shutout of the season for the unbeaten (55-0) Norse.

“People saw tonight why Krystal is the Division II player of the year,” NKU head coach Kathy Stewart said. “She had something to prove tonight, because she did not have her best stuff in the first round. She just shut down a very good team in St. Mary’s.”

Lewallen also set an NKU single-season record with her 32nd victory, a mark which she had established last year.

“I felt like I had something to prove, and so did the team, because we were not ourselves (Thursday),” Lewallen said. “We came out with a different mentality in this game, and we wanted to show everybody what kind of team we really are.”

NKU scored three times in the fifth inning despite getting just one hit. Heather Cotner led off the inning with a walk, and she advanced to second on an infield hit by Becky Napier.

Sara Becker then hit a grounder that was fielded by pitcher Brittany Brown and thrown high to third baseman Veronica Garcia. The ball glanced off Garcia’s glove and bounced away, allowing Cotner to score the game’s first run.

“I saw the third baseman jump up in the air, but I couldn’t see the ball,” Cotner said. “As soon as I heard coach say ‘Go, go go!,’ I got up and ran in.”

After Megan Owens grounded out with runners on second and third, Rachele Vogelpohl struck out swinging. The ball, however, eluded catcher Elizabeth Beyer and Vogelpohl ran to first. Beyer threw the ball to first, and Napier took off for home.

She beat the relay throw home for the second run, while Vogelpohl reached first base safely.

NKU added an insurance run later in the inning on an error by shortstop Lu Lu Rodriguez, and that was all Lewallen needed. The junior right-hander allowed just three batters to reach base the entire game.

St. Mary’s dropped to 49-10, and the Rattlers will meet San Francisco State on Saturday in an elimination game.

“Lewallen brought in the rise ball, and you have to shorten your swing against a pitcher like her who throws that hard,” St. Mary’s head coach Donna Fields said.

NKU will play Lynn (Fla.) at noon Sunday in a winner’s bracket game. The winner of that game will be one victory away from the NCAA Division II national championship.

Lynn is 52-7 after defeating Bloomsburg (Pa.), 3-0, Friday night.