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By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information DECATUR, Ala. - The Northern Kentucky University softball team, at .500 on the season, ended day one of the Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout Tournament as well as they started it, getting run-ruled out of their tournament opener against North Alabama, 8-0, before coming back for a 7-3 win over West Georgia. The Norse came into their first game seeking revenge after getting swept out of a doubleheader by the UNA Lions two weeks ago, but the Lions continued to pour on the offense. UNA cracked the scoring in the second inning, with Amy Goebel on second after a one-out double, Emily Beckwith battled for an RBI single up the middle. A fielding error at shortstop allowed Kim Lee to reach base as Beckwith came in. Sarah Whitlow and Lindsey Bates each followed up with RBI base hits to extend the lead to 4-0. Lindsey Greene slapped a first-pitch double down the left field line in the top of the third to plate two more for the Lions and extend the lead to 6-0. North Alabama added runs in the fourth and fifth innings, holding NKU scoreless to invoke the eight-run rule and end the game. The NKU bats never got going in the early game as they failed to advance a runner past second base in the contest. UNA pitcher Sabrina Roberts needed just 42 pitches to dispatch the Norse, with only three NKU batters seeing more than two pitches in their at bat. Roberts scattered three hits, retired 11 straight during one stretch and struck out two as she improved her record to 4-0 on the year. Amanda Smith gave up four earned runs in four innings of work, striking out two as she fell to 1-3 for the Norse. Karen Simmons gave up one run in one inning of work for NKU. The Norse offense turned itself around in game two, as Rose Broderick took Kate Thompson's first pitch over the right center wall to open up a 1-0 lead against West Georgia. Cara Parker and Becky Napier followed up with back-to-back singles. After Amanda Smith proceeded to fly out to center, an errant throw by West Georgia shortstop Kim Weaver allowed Parker to score to make it a 2-0 game. Amber Gregory added an RBI single to right to plate Jenny Weis, who reached on a dropped strike three that scored Napier, to make it 4-0 before West Georgia stepped to the plate. After the Wolves went quietly in the first and second innings, NKU set the table again in the third with a Weis single to left. The sophomore stole second and was driven in on a Krista Smith double to left. Smith managed to steal third, allowing her to come in when Sydney Doyle's soft roller ended as an RBI infield single to increase the lead to 6-0. Jamie Van Haltern
hit a sacrifice fly to left allowing Adrienne Clay to score and
break up the shutout for West Georgia in the bottom of the fourth.
Jenny Weis responded for the Norse with a one-out solo shot to left.
The Wolves strung together a couple of runs in the fifth and another
in the sixth to reach the final score. Candace White earned the win for the Norse, giving up three unearned runs in six innings, striking out four without a walk to go to 2-0 on the season. Kate Thompson dropped to 4-2 on the season, giving up seven runs on 12 hits, but had seven strikeouts without a walk. Northern Kentucky (3-3) advances to day two of the Charger Chillout to take on Great Lakes Region foe Wayne State at 11 a.m. before taking on Delta State at 1 p.m. |
