Entering the top of the seventh inning in game one of NKU’s three-game set against Oakland, the Norse were clinging to a 2-0 lead. The NKU pitching staff had been lights out up to this point, but were desperate for one more scoreless inning to secure the win in their first conference matchup.

With Makaree Chapman on the mound after being summoned in the sixth to work around a one-out base runner, the freshman had the team on her back, facing the heart of the Oakland lineup.

After the first three batters, Oakland had put two runners on with just one out, allowing the game-tying run to step up to the plate in Oakland’s Autumn Liebhauser. 

After getting ahead to a 0-2 count, Chapman threw two straight balls to even it up. With her heart beating a mile a minute, Chapman put her all into the next pitch that nicked the corner of the zone, forcing a swing and miss for the second out of the inning.

Three pitches later, Chapman would get out of the jam, tallying her third save of the season and the Norse win.

NKU hosted the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Friday, March 20. and Saturday, March 21. in the Horizon League opener. The Norse entered the series 11-12, desperate to get over the hump and crest the .500 mark.

Game One

In game one, graduate student Alicia Flored took the mound, sitting at 3-3 on the season. Flores, a valued starter for NKU, tossed two complete games in Feb. and looked to have yet another good start.

Flores pitches 5.1 innings against Oakland, striking out four on five hits, allowing the Norse offense to get to work.

NKU got on the board in the fourth inning, when senior Brielle DiMemmo and sophomore Brooke Keltner went back-to-back to plate two. The Norse only had four hits, but they made the best of them with two going out of the yard.

NKU pitched themselves out of any Oakland hit sprees, giving up seven hits and no runs. Flores was pulled in the sixth, but Chapman took a page out of Flores’ book, keeping the shutout intact.

The Norse pulled out the victory 2-0, getting off to a good start in the series.

NKU softball head coach Morgan Gerak getting her team together after their win in game one. (Naeun Kim)

Game Two

In game two, the Norse’ bats came alive early, putting five runs on the board in the first two innings. The fireworks began in the first, as DiMemmo and Keltner went back-to-back for the second consecutive game, immediately setting the tone.

Freshman Kenzie Gulley followed with an RBI single, and Jena Rhoads extended the lead with an RBI triple, giving NKU a comfortable cushion. 

Oakland responded with a run in the third and added two more in the sixth, but the Norse stayed steady, adding runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to preserve a four-run lead heading into the top of the seventh.

Entering the seventh, starter Abigail Byrd was still on the mound. After the first two batters popped out and grounded out, Oakland found its back against the wall.

Byrd, clearly gassed from a complete game of work, the exhaustion began to lean heavily into her ability to locate, walking back-to-back batters.

She finally got out of the inning after Oakland’s Annabel Power lined one right to the third baseman, robbing her of an extra base hit and a much-needed run.

With the win, NKU secured the series over Oakland heading into the final game of the Saturday doubleheader.

Freshman Abigail Byrd (6) winding up for her delivery. She pitched a complete game, surrendering three runs on four hits. (NKU Athletics)

Game Three

In game three, Oakland struck early, scoring two quick runs on three two-out hits before NKU even had a chance at bat. They added another in the fourth on a Kenna Bommarito RBI single, taking a 3-0 lead midway through the game.

NKU finally responded in the seventh, plating a run on a DiMemmo bases-loaded walk, bringing the Norse within one hit of tying it with just one out remaining. Sophomore Marlee Loudermilk pinch ran, and Keltner stepped up in a tense at-bat. On a 1-0 pitch, she sent a high fly toward the wall, and fans rose to watch it soar. But the fielder, tracking it perfectly, made the catch and ended NKU’s comeback hopes.

The Norse dropped the final game, but came away with the series win, improving to 13-12 overall, and 2-1 in Horizon League play.

NKU journeys to Dayton on Tuesday, March 24. in a short break before the bulk of conference play commences.