With runners on first and second base, up stepped senior leader Olivia Pastin, who was having herself a day at the plate. With her eyes locked on the ball, swirling and diving towards home plate, Pastin connected and scorched a liner into the outfield for a two-RBI double.
This hit would eventually spark a four-run third inning, which would be all NKU needed to secure the game and the series.
In game one, IU Indy got off to a hot start, putting up a two-spot with a risky double steal that was followed up by an RBI single by Kennedy Cowan. The Jaguars’ starting pitcher, Lily Roush, was giving up hard contact, but was working her way through the Norse lineup, shutting them out through four innings.
To start the fifth inning, Mack Brow flew out to center field in what seemed to be another scoreless frame. However, after back-to-back hits by Campbell Beatty and Jenna Rhoads, Pastin came up and hit a go-ahead three-run home run to break through for the Norse.
Alicia Flores would finish the game on the mound after being brought out of the bullpen in the third inning, pitching 4.1 innings of relief, surrendering just two hits and walking one.
In game two, it seemed to be another low-scoring affair until Pastin stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-run double to keep the bats hot. Brielle Dimemmo would keep the next man up mentality, roping a double down the line to score another run. NKU would cap off the inning, scoring on a wild pitch to go up 4-0 in the third inning.
The Norse starting pitcher, Kyndall Ford, attempted to shut down the Jaguars and maintain the Norse’s early lead, giving up just one run on eight hits. Pastin had two hits that both went for extra bases, being responsible for four of NKU’s five runs scored in the game and pushing the Norse to a .500 record overall.
In game three, IU Indy was determined to avoid the sweep. They took a page out of NKU’s book, putting up a four-spot in the first inning, made possible by a Paige McPhearson single, an Alexa Holman double and a fielding error that allowed another run to swipe across the plate.
NKU tried to climb back into the game but was unable to light the spark that burnt out after the first two games. The Jaguars’ offense began pouring on, as they added runs in the fourth and sixth innings, including a five-spot in the seventh.
IU Indy’s Kendal Calvert, Morgan Gilbert and Cowan were the reason behind the Jaguars’ success, hitting 7-12 from the plate in game three, compared to 6-19 in the first two.
NKU pitching also got slapped around with Brooklyn Ballis giving up seven runs on 10 hits, only striking out two.
IU Indy went on to crush the Norse 12-4, avoiding the sweep and keeping NKU under the .500 mark.
The Norse will go on the road against the Bellarmine Knights next Wednesday at 4 p.m. The Norse have three conference series left in the season, two of which come against top-ranked opponents. If NKU wants to solidify a top seed in the conference tournament, now is the time to show their skill and leave it all on the field.