---Ashley Gates hits the second of her three home runs on the day, this a three-run blast to finish Game 1 in run-rule fashion, 12-2. The freshman leads the Norse with six home runs.

By Don Owen, NKU Sports Information

Game 1 box score | Game 2 box score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Cara Parker’s grand slam highlighted a 10-run third inning as the Northern Kentucky University softball team completed a doubleheader sweep of Southern Indiana with a 15-6 victory Saturday afternoon.
 
Southern Indiana scored six times in the second inning of the nightcap to take a 6-2 lead, but NKU responded in the bottom of the third by collecting nine hits during a 10-run outburst. Sam Del Vecchio cut Southern Indiana’s lead to 6-4 with a two-run double, and Ashley Gates tied the game by blasting a two-run homer to left field.
 
After a pair of Southern Indiana errors later in the inning helped NKU take an 8-6 lead, Parker stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. She launched a drive over the center-field fence to extend the Norse’s advantage to 12-6.
 
NKU added three more runs in the fourth inning to seal the win. Parker finished 3-for-3 with five runs batted in for the Norse, who improved to 15-15 overall, 5-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
 
Southern Indiana is 9-27 overall, 1-9 in the GLVC.
 
In the opener, Gates belted a pair of homers and drove in six runs as NKU cruised to a 12-2 victory. Parker hit a two-run homer as the Norse jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Gates added an RBI double in the first inning.
 
Gates, who has six homers this season, capped NKU’s victory in the opener by launching a three-run blast to right-center field in the sixth inning. Norse starter April Ehlers notched the win and recorded nine strikeouts.
 
Del Vecchio was 3-for-4 and scored three times, while Rose Broderick drove in two runs. NKU collected 28 total hits during the two games and took advantage of seven errors by Southern Indiana in the twinbill.
 
NKU plays host to Kentucky Wesleyan at noon Sunday at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field.