Northern Kentucky used a pair of four-run innings to pull away for a 9-0 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team in the Horizon League series opener on Friday evening at Eastwood Field.

The Penguins fall to 10-20 overall and 3-4 in Horizon League play while the Norse improve to 9-18 overall and 4-5 in league action.

Northern Kentucky plated one run in the top of the fourth inning and extended its lead with a four-run seventh. The Norse added four more runs in the top of the ninth to produce the final margin.

Padraig O'Shaughnessy, Lucas Nasonti and Andre Good each singled as the Norse outhit the Penguins 11-3.

YSU starter Jon Snyder suffered the loss after allowing only one run on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks over three innings of work. Chad Coles was charged with six runs on five hits and four walks with four punch outs over five innings of relief. Brandon Matthews was responsible for two runs on two hits and two walks in one inning on the mound.

The Norse grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Manny Vorhees drew a bases loaded walk.

NKU increased its edge to 5-0 with four runs on two hits in the top of the seventh inning. The Norse did all of their damage in the inning after the first two batters were retired. Ryan Glass was hit by a pitch, Noah Fisher followed with an infield single and Brennan Gick was intentionally walked to load the bases. After Liam McFadden-Ackman drew a bases-loaded walk, Griffin Kain hit a three-run triple to right field.

The Norse sent nine batters to the plate while scoring four runs on three hits in the top of the ninth inning. McFadden-Ackman delivered an RBI single through the left side before Brandon Tucker drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Two additional runs crossed the plate on a pair of wild pitches to push the NKU lead to 9-0.

Fisher, McFadden-Ackman and Kain each had two hits to pace the Norse offensively. Kain recorded a game-high three RBIs while McFadden-Ackman drove in a pair and scored three times.

NKU starter TJ Graves allowed one hit over 1.2 scoreless innings before Blaine Walters came on to work a third of an inning. Michael Bohlen was awarded the victory after retiring the only three batters he faced in the third inning. Ben Gerl earned the save after allowing just one hit and striking out seven batters over six inning of relief.

The Penguins and Norse will continue their three-game Horizon League series on Saturday at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on YSNLive.com.