LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Toledo softball team ended its weekend with a huge 5-2 upset over No. 22 Northwestern in its final game of the Louisville Softball Cardinal Classic on Sunday. The Rockets fell to Northern Kentucky 14-7 in the opening game, and finished 2-2 on the weekend.

In the win over the 2022 Big Ten Champions, the Rockets took a 3-0 lead with one run in the second inning and two more in the third on a two-run single by Riley Mohr.  Northwestern scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, but Lauren Erickson answered in the top of the sixth with a two-run homer, her second in two days, to push Toledo ahead 5-2. The Wildcats loaded the bases without scoring in the sixth and then went down 1-2-3 in the seventh to put the Rockets in the win column.

Erin Hunt, who was knocked out in the first inning in the loss to Northern Kentucky, bounced back to go the distance vs. Northwestern, striking out four and scattering four hits and four walks in the win. 

Head Coach Jessica Bracamonte said she was impressed how her team bounced back following the lopsided loss to Northern Kentucky.

"This game has a special way of humbling you," Bracamonte said. "We played two strong games yesterday and came back in first game today a completely different team. We talk a lot about what it means to reset -- pregame, in-game and post game. Nothing automatically carries over just because we played well yesterday, doesn't mean we can just roll out of bed and play well today. Fortunately, the opposite is also true. Just because you don't play well one game, doesn't mean you can't come back and play well the next. We proved that today."

In the day's opening game, Northern Kentucky had an eight-run opening inning and added three more runs in the third to take an 11-0 lead before Toledo got on the board. The Rockets scored five runs in the third, but the Norse scored once in the fourth and twice in the sixth to lead 14-5. Erickson hit a two-run triple, her second of the game, to cut the deficit to 14-7 in the sixth, but that would be the final run of the game as the Rockets picked up the loss.

Hunt picked up the loss, giving up six runs in the first inning, five of them unearned. Sophia Knight (2.2 innings) and Madison McKay (4.0 innings) also pitched for Toledo.

Erickson had a monster day at the plate for the Rockets, going 3-for-7 with a home run, two triples and six RBIs. For the weekend, she was 5-for-11 with two home runs, two triples and eight RBIs.

"I am not only extremely proud of this team, I am also happy and excited for them," added Bracamonte. "They competed from start to finish with confidence and composure against a very strong team. So many key hits, plays, and pitches top to bottom that came together to finish the weekend on a high note. Lots of smiles and ice cream on the way home, and back to work on Tuesday for another competitive weekend"

Toledo (4-9) has one more tournament this season, at the University of Central Florida Invitational on Friday-Sunday, March 11-13 in Orlando, Fla.

Game 1 – Northern Kentucky 14, Toledo 7

• Northern Kentucky scored eight  runs in the first, seven of which were unearned.
• NKU scored three more runs on a three-run double in the third to extend its lead to 11-0 .
• Toledo got on the board with five runs in the third to make it 11-5. The big hit was a two-run triple by Lauren Erickson.
• NKU's Jena Rhodas scored off a wild pitch in the fourth to make it 12-5.
• The Norse scored off a solo home run and a sacrifice fly in the sixth to give themselves a 14-5 lead.
• Erickson hit another two-run triple in the sixth to make it 14-7.
• Toledo put two runners on in the seventh but failed to score.

Game 2 – Toledo 5, Northwestern 2

• Leah Munson hit an RBI single in the second to put Toledo ahead 1-0.
• Riley Mohr extended Toledo's lead to 3-0 with a two-run single in the third.
• Kelsey Nader bunted for Northwestern's first hit against Erin Hunt, and was stranded on base at the end of the fourth.
• Hannah Cady cut the Wildcats' deficit down with a two-run homer in the fifth.
• Lauren Erickson hit a two-run homer over the center field wall to push Toledo ahead in the sixth, 5-2.
• The Wildcats went down 1-2-3 in the seventh to end the game in a 5-2 final score.