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By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information ASHLAND, Ohio - Northern Kentucky University's Amanda Smith didn't need much help to guide the Norse to victory. A single run in the fifth inning was enough to get the job done as Smith and the Norse earned a 1-0 win over Ashland on Wednesday. Cara Parker got things started with a two-out single, taking second on a bobble by left fielder Jennifer Alderson. After Jamie Raabe came in to run for Parker, leadoff hitter Stephanie West slapped a single through the left side to bring the freshman in and provide the game-winning score. Smith (5-3) was as steady as ever in the circle, scattering five hits and striking out three in the victory. Ashland's Logan Hursey (4-4) walked five and struck out five while allowing four hits. The Norse jumped ahead early in the nightcap, as Katybeth Coode smacked her fifth home run of the year, and fourth in her last five games, in the second at-bat of Game 2. Smith followed up with a double to right-center, and later scored on an April Ehlers single. NKU got three more in the third when Ehlers hit her first career home run, a three-run shot to plate West and Rose Broderick and give the Norse a 5-0 lead. Ashland's comeback began in the bottom of the third with Kristen McGaughey's two-run bomb. The Eagles would get two more in the fifth when Jessica Cantrell scored on a defensive miscue, followed by an RBI-single by McGaughey. After
the Norse went down in order in the sixth, Ashland got started
with a single and a sacrifice bunt to put a runner on second. Back-to-back
RBI-base hits from Danielle Rychener and Jessica Cantrell NKU could find no answer in the top of the seventh, going down in order to end the game. Ehlers allowed four runs, two earned, and struck out four in five innings, but did not factor in the decision. Roy (2-4) was saddled with the loss, giving up three runs on three hits. Shannon Gray (3-4) got the win in relief for the Eagles, retiring her final nine batters in order to close out the come-from-behind victory. Northern Kentucky (10-16) will continue a six-game road trip this weekend when the Norse face Kentucky Wesleyan and Southern Indiana in Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheaders. |
