HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Thursday afternoon the Green Bay softball team played their Horizon League-opening doubleheader at Northern Kentucky. The Phoenix battled, but fell to the Norse in both contests.
 
GAME 1 | Northern Kentucky 10, Green Bay 1
The Norse offense showed up big in the first two innings, scoring three runs in the first and four more in the second to grab a 7-0 lead fast. All seven runs came on RBI doubles.
 
Samantha Saloun put the Phoenix on the board in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run over the wall in left center, her team-leading third on the season. That was as close as GB would get, however, as the Norse would put three more on the board in the bottom of the fourth and shut down the GB offense in the fifth to secure the run-rule victory.
 
Brittany Baneck (6-6) started in the circle and took the loss. Alicia Flores grabbed the win for the Norse after pitching two scoreless innings to start the game.
 
GAME NOTES
» Green Bay was outhit by the Norse 10-3.
» Saloun, Kendal Herschbach, and Randi McKay were the three Phoenix to register hits.
» Paige Hanson had a good outing at the plate as well, drawing two walks.
» Northern Kentucky was led offensively by freshman Jena Rhoads, who went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and four RBI.
 
GAME 2 | Northern Kentucky 9, Green Bay 6
NKU once again brought the bats out early, scoring three runs in each of the first three innings and racking up a 9-1 lead after the third inning came to a close. Green Bay battled back in the top of the fourth inning when a Jadin Justman grand slam made the score 9-5.
 
The Phoenix cut into the NKU lead even more with another run in the top of the fifth. Kaylin Fahy brought home the run with a sac fly that scored McKay from third. Northern Kentucky starter Madysn Eads rebounded in the final two innings and shut down the Phoenix comeback attempt and securing the 9-6 win for the Norse.
 
Kelly Greene (1-4) got the ball to start and took the loss. Freshman Viviana Guzman was a bright spot for the Phoenix, coming out of the bullpen and throwing 3.1 shutout innings, allowing one hit, with no walks and three strikeouts.
 
Gianna Sanchez put together a noteworthy performance at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Giese also contributed for Green Bay, putting together three hits in three trips to the plate while adding a walk.
 
GAME NOTES
» Justman drove in four runs for the Phoenix, a season-high for the junior.
» Both teams finished the game with 11 hits.
» Northern Kentucky was led offensively by sophomore Trinity Robertson, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
» Junior Madisyn Eads led the Norse pitching staff, throwing seven innings of six-run ball.
 
UP NEXT
Green Bay will close out the series against Northern Kentucky tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT. Next week the Phoenix will host Robert Morris in the Horizon League home opener on Friday, March 24 at 3 p.m.
 
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