Youngstown, Ohio – Freshman Lydia Wilkerson hit a two-out, bases-loaded single to lift the Youngstown State softball team to a 2-1 win over Northern Kentucky on Friday afternoon at the YSU Softball Field.

With the game tied at 1-1, freshman Macy Littler started the Penguins late-inning rally with a one-out single to left field. Senior Hailey Niekderkohr walked, and after a wild pitch put runners on second and third, freshman Autumn Behlke walked to load the bases.

Wilkerson battled Hicks fouling off a pair of pitches and forcing a full count. On the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Wilkerson lofted a single to shallow left field to score Littler with the game-winning run.

The walk-off victory improves the Penguins to 28-13 overall and 14-2 in the Horizon League while the Norse fall to 17-16 overall and 10-6 in league play.

Senior Sophie Howell picked up her 18th win over the season, and defeated NKU's Lauryn Hicks in a classic pitcher's duel. Howell scattered five hits and struck out seven while Hicks allowed just three hits and fanned eight batters.

Hicks retired the first 10 YSU batters she faced before Wilkerson walked in the bottom of the fourth to break up the perfect game. After Jillian Jakse reached on a fielder's choice, Kennedy Dean squelched the no-hit bid with a single to left field.

Senior Elyssa Imler walked to load the bases, and senior Conchetta Rinaldi watched a 3-2 pitch sail high and wide to plate Jakse with a two-out walk and a 1-0 lead.

The Norse knotted the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth on a solo home run to center field by Trinity Robertson.

The Penguins and Norse conclude the series with a doubleheader, Saturday, April 20. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the YSU Softball Field.