Kaitlyn Jaeger homered and scored two runs for the South Carolina Upstate softball team in an 8-0 victory over Northern Kentucky on Sunday to conclude the Atlantic Sun Conference weekend series between the teams.
Upstate won all three games in the series, taking Saturday’s doubleheader by scores of 8-0 and 9-1.
Jager was one of three Spartans who had perfect games at the plate, as Hayley Reinfeld went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and Lindsey Greeson went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. All told, the Spartans (40-8, 18-2 A-Sun) combined for 11 hits in the contest and left seven runners stranded.
Allie Conner claimed NKU’s only hit in the contest, as three others reached on walks. With the loss, NKU fell to 5-38 overall and 1-17 in conference play.
Aly Schneider got the scoring started for Upstate, stealing home in the bottom of the first inning. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, she moved to second on an error on Shellie Robinson’s batted ball and took third on a Kendall Settlemyre flyout to put runners on the corners and set up the double-steal that gave Upstate a 1-0 lead.
Jager’s one-out home run in the second inning sparked a four-run frame for the Spartans. Greeson and Reinfeld followed up with back-to-back singles before Greeson came home on a wild pitch. A walk to Schneider and a single by Robinson loaded the bases for Settlemyre, who popped a single to right field to plate Reinfeld. Dana Landers then drew a bases-loaded walk to prompt a Norse pitching change, as Kelley Benhase got a pop up from Cheyenne Griffin to end the inning with the Spartans leading, 5-0.
The senior hurler threw a pair of scoreless frames before getting into trouble in the fifth. Pairs Prusak and Jaeger singled to begin the inning before Greeson walked to load the bases. Reinfeld followed with an RBI-single that glanced off Benhase to score Prusak and keep the bases loaded. Jager scored on a wild pitch before back-to-back walks to Schnieder and Robinson scored Greeson and ended the game.
Lexi Schubert (30-5) picked up her third win of the series in the circle, giving up one hit and striking out six in four innings in the start. Amanda Storch struck out one in a scoreless fifth inning of relief for the Spartans.
The loss fell to NKU starter Alyssa Enrique (0-9), who surrendered four earned runs on six hits in 1.2 innings.
The Norse return home to the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field for the final five games of the regular season, beginning on Tuesday with a nonconference doubleheader against Miami (Ohio). First pitch is set for 2 p.m., with both games set to be broadcast on ASun.TV.
From NKU Athletics