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By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Northern Kentucky University softball team showed its character Thursday, wrapping up the Rebel Spring Games with a couple of come-from-behind victories. The Norse defeated Upper Iowa, 5-3, and C.W. Post, 3-2, in their fifth, and final, day in Florida. A pair of broken plays allowed two runs to score for Upper Iowa in the fourth inning of Game 1, signaling the end of the day for Amanda Smith, who pitched four innings in the start. Chelsie Roy came in relief and gave up an RBI single to Nicole Davis to put the Peacocks up, 3-0. The Norse turned it around in the bottom of the sixth, though, stringing together three infield singles, followed by April Ehlers' shot up the middle with two outs to score the tying and go-ahead runs, punctuating her 2-for-3 game. Roy (1-3) picked up her first collegiate win in relief, pitching three innings to shut the door. Sam Del Vecchio had an offensive highlight with her first career double. Del Vecchio set the table for NKU's comeback bid against C.W. Post in Game 2, slapping the first pitch of the seventh inning through the left side for a base hit. After Stephanie West and Katybeth Coode reached to load the bases, Rose Broderick came through in the clutch, sailing the first pitch she saw into left center for a two-run single. Amanda Smith later singled her shortstop home for the insurance run. The Pioneers plated one in the bottom of the inning, but Ehlers focused in from there, striking out Katie Fisher to end the game. Ehlers (2-6) went the distance, striking out seven in the victory. Broderick was 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the offense. Northern Kentucky (4-10) returns home with no easy task as they welcome Grand Valley State to Highland Heights on Sunday for a non-conference doubleheader. |
