By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information

NKU-MSU box score | NKU-AU box score

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A sophomore’s stellar pitching performance and a freshman’s two-run bomb created the perfect storm that allowed the Northern Kentucky University softball team to shut out Ferris State, 5-0.

The Norse were quiet for the game’s first three innings before finding the chink in Holly Bruntjens’ armor. Ashley Gates and Shatona Campbell claimed back-to-back singles to set the table for Cara Parker, who sliced a shot down the left field line to score Gates. Rose Broderick and Dani Finley then drove in runs on misplays by Ferris State shortstop Lynsay Weaver to jump out to a 3-0 lead.

Gates put the dagger in the Bulldogs’ heart in the fifth inning when she blasted a 1-1 pitch over the left-center field wall to claim her second home run of the season.

Chelsie Roy (4-2) had the Ferris batters guessing the entire game, claiming eight strikeouts in the shutout, and six of those without a swing of the bat.

Gates’ home run capped a 2-for-4 performance, while Parker went 2-for-3 on the game.

The big win over Ferris State followed NKU’s 6-1 win over Wheeling Jesuit.

Jessica Farris opened up the scoring with a two-out RBI-single to bring in April Ehlers in the bottom of the second inning. The offense helped Ehlers to bear down in the circle as she retired the first 10 batters she saw and 13 of the first 14 to step up for the Cardinals.

The Norse broke the game open in the fifth inning after a misplay by Cardinal first baseman Vanessa Ilovar allowed Stephanie West to reach base safely on her sacrifice bunt attempt. After Amanda Smith popped out for what would have been the second out of the inning the Norse went for the throat.

Ashley Gates brought Farris in on a sacrifice fly and Shatona Campbell drove in West with an infield single before Cara Parker drilled the first pitch she saw down the left field line and out for her first home run of the season. After a single by Rose Broderick, another error allowed Ehlers to reach base and put another in scoring position, which Dani Finley took advantage of, pushing a single up the middle to wrap up the five-run inning.

Ilovar got a bit of retribution with a solo home run in the sixth inning, but it was the only hit the Cardinals would claim on the game.

Ehlers (6-4) struck out 12 and walked four in the victory. Offensively, Shatona Campbell went 3-for-4 while Farris was 2-for-3.

Northern Kentucky (10-6) wraps up play in Florida on Friday afternoon with games against Minnesota State and Ashland.