HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – It was a tough day for the Green Bay softball team, as the Phoenix dropped its first two Horizon League games of the season against Northern Kentucky, 8-0 and 9-8. Green Bay will close out the three-game series against the Norse tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT.
 
GAME 1 | Northern Kentucky 8, Green Bay 0
Game one started as a pitcher's duel, but ended early after a seven-run fifth inning gave the Norse an 8-0 win after five innings. The Phoenix offense was held hitless by Northern Kentucky pitcher Alicia Flores, who struck out five and walked two.
 
Genesis Eggart pitched three scoreless innings to start but ended up taking the loss after surrendering four earned runs in her four innings pitched.
 
Green Bay had opportunities with runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Phoenix went 0-for-3 in those at-bats.
 
Bella Herman was the lone GB player to get on base in game one, drawing two walks.
 
GAME NOTES
» Northern Kentucky was led offensively by Brielle DiMemmo, who went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
» The other Norse also had multi-hit games.
» Megan Weiss came in relief for Eggart, surrendering two earned runs in the game's final at-bats.
 
GAME 2 | Northern Kentucky 9, Green Bay 8
Game two was a different story, with the Phoenix jumping out ahead in the third inning thanks to a Herman fielder's choice that scored Kendal Herschbach. The Norse tied it up at 1 all in the bottom half of the frame when Jena Rhoades' RBI single scored a run for NKU.
 
The Norse took a 2-1 lead in the fourth off of Phoenix starter Ava Schill. However, Green Bay took that lead right back when Sara Ebner doubled home Herman and Gianna Camacho to give the Green & White a 3-2 advantage. Hanson tacked on another run shortly after, bringing home Anna Trimble after an RBI double down the left-field line.
 
After tying it up in the bottom of the fifth, another huge inning helped the Norse build a lead. NKU scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to enter the final frame with a 9-4 advantage. GB's offense wouldn't go down without a fight however, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh after a three-RBI double from Jenna Redders and an Emma Krueger RBI to cut the NKU lead to 9-8. That was as close as GB got, however, as the Phoenix stranded the bases loaded in the top of the seventh.
 
GAME NOTES
» Hanson led the Phoenix offense, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Ebner was also key, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
» The Phoenix outhit the Norse at an 11-8 clip.
» Northern Kentucky was led offensively by Campbell Beatty, who went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI.
» Brooklyn Ballis led the Norse pitching staff, throwing five innings of four-run ball.
 
COMING UP
After tomorrow's rematch, the Phoenix will stay on the road for a single game against Ohio State on Monday, March 17, followed by a doubleheader at Bowling Green the following day.
 
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