 |
By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information ST. LOUIS - The Northern Kentucky University softball team broke out the big bats Saturday afternoon as they opened up Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a pair of wins over Missouri-St. Louis by scores of 9-3 and 7-6. “Small ball” got the Norse on the board first in game one, as Rose Broderick opened the game with a double to left. After Cara Parker sacrificed her teammate to third, Amanda Smith helped her own cause with an infield single to bring in Broderick. Parker singled up the middle to get the offense started in the third inning. Amanda Smith followed up with her second infield single of the day. Jenny Weis came through with an RBI single to plate Parker before senior Becky Napier wrapped up the hit parade with a two-run single to right field to make it a 4-0 game. The Norse came alive for five in the sixth inning, bookended by home runs by Broderick, a solo shot, and Napier, a three-run blast, to extend the lead to 9-0. However, the Riverwomen avoided a run-rule defeat with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the 9-3 final score. Napier's 2-for-3, five RBI performance topped NKU's offensive standouts. Amanda Smith was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Weis added a 2-for-3 day with two runs scored. Amanda Smith recorded the complete-game victory, giving up eight hits and three runs, just one earned. In the nightcap of the doubleheader NKU had a very familiar start as Broderick got on base and Parker sacrificed her to second. The similarities ended there, however, as Broderick got caught in a run down after Shatona Campbell's single to left. Campbell was later driven in by Amanda Smith's fourth double of the season. Smith scored after an error from Missouri-St. Louis' Jennifer Beckman at first base allowed Weis to reach safely. Missouri-St. Louis responded in the bottom of the second inning on a Corie Jones sacrifice fly and an Alex Pepin RBI single to knot things back at two aside. NKU retook the lead in the top of the third with a Jenny Weis sacrifice fly to plate Cara Parker, who singled to lead off the inning. Parker got the lead back to two runs with an RBI single in the fourth, scoring Broderick from second base. The Riverwomen got a pair in the bottom of the fourth to draw even, lead off by a Megan Brussman homer. After a bunt groundout, Pepin and Dana Essner scored back-to-back doubles, squaring the game at four. Missouri-St. Louis manufactured two more runs in the fifth on RBI singles from Essner and Katie Bartlett to take a 6-4 lead. The Norse came back in the top of the seventh as Amanda Smith lead things off with a single to left. After Weis reached on a fielder's choice, Napier singled down the right field chalk to represent the tying run. Amber Gregory's single to right brought in Weis and cut the lead to one. After Kelly Greer lined out in a pinch-hitting appearance and Sidney Doyle was plunked to load the bases, Broderick came through again with a two-run single to right to retake the lead. Amanda Smith came back to retire the side in order in the bottom half to complete the conference sweep. Broderick had an outstanding day at the plate overall, going 7-for-10 in the two games with three runs scored and three RBI combined. Parker was a perfect 2-for-2 from the dish, while Campbell, Amanda Smith, Napier and Gregory each chipped in two hits in the day's second game. Smith (7-4) got the win in relief, giving up five hits and two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of work. Candace White went 3 1/3 in the start, striking out two. The wins move the Norse to 15-7 overall, and 2-0 in GLVC play. The Norse conclude the conference weekend Sunday against Quincy. |
