Colonials’ two-hit performance was enough to advance to Horizon League Championship
The team gathers around the mound during a game against Cleveland State on April 3, 2022
May 14, 2022
They just keep winning. The Colonials will not go down without a fight as they win their fourth in a row to play for a Horizon League Championship after a 2-1 win against Northern Kentucky Friday afternoon.
Red-hot Taylor Rhinehart was in the circle for the Colonials and Madisyn Eads was pitching for the Norse.
A pitcher’s duel between the two was an understatement as only two Northern Kentucky hits were the only baserunners in the first three innings for both teams.
One of those hits was by Kendyl McKeough in the top of the fourth. The senior utility drove the ball to right field for a triple, immediately threatening the Colonials with a runner in scoring position with no outs.
Jordan Jenkins, sacrificed for a groundout, the next batter, easily scoring McKeough to draw first blood for the Norse.
Avery Winchell’s double in the bottom half of the inning got the Colonials their first hit. Erika Bell hit a single to move Winchell to third. Taylor Rhinehart grounded out and sacrificed herself to score Winchell to tie the game.
Flash forward to the bottom half of the sixth; Alaina York took four consecutive balls for a leadoff walk. York would steal second after a passed ball by Maddie Lacer and advanced to third on a wild pitch two batters later. Avery Winchell grounded out to Norse shortstop Tatum Biddle. Biddle saw York coming home, but the catcher, Lacer, dropped the ball to put the Colonials in front.
A perfect seventh inning completed a Rhinehart complete game. She allowed four hits and seven strikeouts.
The ‘Cardiac Colonials’ will face top-seeded Oakland. With a loss in hand, the Colonials would need to win twice. The game will start at 10 am on ESPN+.
