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By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information NKU-CSP box score | NKU-DC box score KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Phenomenal pitching set the tone for the Northern Kentucky University softball team as sophomore pitcher April Ehlers set a new school record with 18 strikeouts in a 7-0 win over Dowling. Ehlers (4-3) struck out the side in the first, second, sixth and seventh innings en route to the one-hit shutout, her first of the season. Only once did the Golden Lions get a batter past first base, when a hit batter and a walk put two on before Ehlers ended another inning on a strikeout. The 18 punch out performance stands second all-time in the NCAA for strikeouts in a seven-inning game. Ehlers held her own offensively in the game as well, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Amanda Smith also collected three hits and scored a run while Jessica Farris stole two bases, including home plate, in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win followed NKU’s 5-1 victory over Concordia (Minn.) to open the action on Day 3 of the Rebel Spring Games. The Norse opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning after a double from Rose Broderick and a single by April Ehlers gave the Norse runners at the corners with one out. Chelsea Toler laid down a suicide squeeze to score Broderick and reached base safely when the throw to first was dropped by the first baseman. After Stephanie West walked to load the bases, Amanda Smith cashed in with a two-run single to right center to give NKU the 3-0 lead. Broderick drove in two more in the third inning with a double to the wall in right-center field. The Golden Bears scratched together a run of their own in the fifth inning on the strength of a double by Nikki Scherr, but NKU pitcher Chelise Roy bore down, getting a groundout and a pair of strikeouts to end the threat. Roy (3-1) went the distance for NKU, scattering four hits and striking out three in the victory. West and Broderick each claimed 2-for-3 games at the plate. NKU improved to 7-5 on the season after taking their first doubleheader sweep in 2009. The Norse will take a much-deserved day off before taking on Saginaw Valley State and Palm Beach Atlantic on Wednesday. |
