Danielle Curcio went 2-for-3 including a solo home run in the third inning and Aimee Murch tossed a complete game shutout as Lynn advanced to the national championship game by handing Northern Kentucky its first loss of the season at the Division II Softball Championship in Salem, Va. 

Curcio’s homer came on a 2-2 pitch with two outs in the third inning. The Fighting Knights will face the winner of this afternoon’s game between Kennesaw State and Northern Kentucky. 

Both Murch (38-3) and NKU ace Krystal Lewallen (32-1) had solid pitching performance, each giving up five hits. The Norse were able to garner a base runner in the last two innings, but were unable to plate a run. 

NKU’s best scoring chance came in the third, when Megan Owens and Ricki Rothbauer each delivered singles to give the Norse two on with one out. Murch ended the threat by striking out two of NKU’s top hitters in Stephanie Leimbach and Angie Lindeman.