The Northern Kentucky University Softball team gained a split of a double-header with Drury on April 19, losing the opener and winning Game 2 after rallying for six runs in the final inning.
In the first game, the Panthers (14-30, 4-13 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference) defeated NKU (18-24, 7-13 in the GLVC) 7-2 after jumping to an early lead, scoring six unrivaled runs within the first two innings.
NKU starting pitcher April Ehlers (7-12) gave up three runs on two hits in the first inning and three runs on one hit in the second. Ehlers was relieved by freshman pitcher Chelsie Roy after facing three batters in the second inning.
Roy pitched for four scoreless innings, surrendering two hits and striking out two.
The Lady Norse put up their first point of the game in the fifth inning after Chelsea Toler, who hit a single earlier that inning, scored off a sacrifice fly hit by Rose Broderick.
Shatona Campbell, a junior at NKU, contributed the second point for the Lady Norse, hitting a single in the sixth inning to allow April Ehlers to score.
Sophomore pitcher Karen Simmons was unable to come up with a save, giving up one run on two hits in the seventh.
Brittany Davis, a freshman pitcher at Drury, managed all seven innings on the mound for the Panthers, giving up two runs on eight hits.
The second game started the same for the Lady Norse, whose five errors in the first inning allowed Drury to establish another quick lead, scoring six runs on three hits.
NKU starting pitcher Amanda Smith gave up six runs on five hits before being relieved by Chelsie Roy, who pitched three innings and allowed three runs on six hits.
The Lady Norse cut the Panthers lead in half in the third inning, scoring three runs on five hits.
Drury extended their lead to 7-3 in the fourth inning, scoring one run on two hits, but the Lady Norse offensive success continued in the fifth inning as the Lady Norse tied the game, scoring four runs on two hits, including a two-run homer hit by junior infielder Cara Parker early in the inning.
Drury, however, also had a big fifth inning, scoring two runs on two hits.
In the sixth inning, NKU scored one run on three hits, cutting Drury’s lead to 9-8, and in the seventh the Lady Norse rallied and scored six runs on seven hits to take their first lead of the game.
Freshman pitcher April Ehlers provided the win for the Lad Norse, pitching two scoreless innings and limiting the Panthers to two hits, ending the game with a score of 14-9.
The Lady Norse were swept by Rockhurst April 20, losing 3-2 in the first game and 4-3 in the second.
Ehlers (8-13) pitched a complete game in the first game, going six innings in the loss, surrendering three runs on eight hits, walking three and pitching three strike outs. She also went 1-for-3 at the plate, driving in two runs.
In the second game, Smith (6-7) struggled on the mound only pitching one inning, allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits, walking one and one strikeout.
At the plate, Smith drove in three runs going 1-for-4 from the plate.
Next for the Lady Norse is a double-header matchup with Bellarmine at 2 p.m. April 24 at Knighta Field.