05-07-2012, 04:40 PM
INDIANAPOLIS â The Northern Kentucky University softball team came from behind to take a 4-3 victory from Illinois Springfield in the finals of the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Tournament.
The Norse (38-19) advance to a best-of-three Super Regional series against Saint Joseph's, which advanced through the other Midwest Region tournament. Dates, times and locations are yet to be determined.
Emily Schwaeble (24-6) picked up her third win in the circle, giving up three runs on nine hits while striking out six. Schwaeble also hit her 12th home run of the season, her only hit in three at bats.
Natalie Papi and Kari Lang each had two-hit days as the Norse combined for seven hits.
Illinois Springfield ended its season with a record of 36-21.
NKU opened the scoring in the second inning on an RBI single by Lang to score Papi, who singled to lead off the frame.
The Prairie Stars got at least one hit in every inning, and finally broke through in the fifth inning to tie the game on a Rachel Wood RBI double. Tina Buck pushed the Prairie Stars ahead with a two-run single in the sixth inning.
Schwaeble's solo shot to centerfield led off the comeback for the Norse in the sixth inning. Mandi McQueen was hit by a pitch before Papi unloaded a double to right center to score McQueen and tie the game.
Dee Dee Davis completed the comeback for the Norse, pulling an 0-1 pitch down the left field line to plate Papi and give the Norse a 4-3 lead.
The Prairie Stars threatened to tie it back up in the seventh with a leadoff single, but Schwaeble was able to induce a double play out of the ever dangerous Brooke Carroll and strike out Sam Inman on three pitches to end the game.
Next weekend will mark the sixth and seventh meetings, at least, between the Norse and Saint Joseph's. NKU has won four of the five previous games, including a 12-2 decision in the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
http://nkunorse.com/news/2012/5/6/SB_0506120547.aspx
The Norse (38-19) advance to a best-of-three Super Regional series against Saint Joseph's, which advanced through the other Midwest Region tournament. Dates, times and locations are yet to be determined.
Emily Schwaeble (24-6) picked up her third win in the circle, giving up three runs on nine hits while striking out six. Schwaeble also hit her 12th home run of the season, her only hit in three at bats.
Natalie Papi and Kari Lang each had two-hit days as the Norse combined for seven hits.
Illinois Springfield ended its season with a record of 36-21.
NKU opened the scoring in the second inning on an RBI single by Lang to score Papi, who singled to lead off the frame.
The Prairie Stars got at least one hit in every inning, and finally broke through in the fifth inning to tie the game on a Rachel Wood RBI double. Tina Buck pushed the Prairie Stars ahead with a two-run single in the sixth inning.
Schwaeble's solo shot to centerfield led off the comeback for the Norse in the sixth inning. Mandi McQueen was hit by a pitch before Papi unloaded a double to right center to score McQueen and tie the game.
Dee Dee Davis completed the comeback for the Norse, pulling an 0-1 pitch down the left field line to plate Papi and give the Norse a 4-3 lead.
The Prairie Stars threatened to tie it back up in the seventh with a leadoff single, but Schwaeble was able to induce a double play out of the ever dangerous Brooke Carroll and strike out Sam Inman on three pitches to end the game.
Next weekend will mark the sixth and seventh meetings, at least, between the Norse and Saint Joseph's. NKU has won four of the five previous games, including a 12-2 decision in the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
http://nkunorse.com/news/2012/5/6/SB_0506120547.aspx