Northern Kentucky scored six runs over the final two innings to pull away for a 13-5 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team in the series opener on Friday evening at Eastwood Field.
The Penguins scored once in the second to take an early lead before the Norse struck for three runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to take control. YSU plated single runs in the fifth and sixth to pull within 6-3 before NKU plated two runs in the top of the eight to build an 8-3 lead. Youngstown State got two runs in the home half of the eighth to cut NKU's lead to 8-5, but Northern Kentucky responded with five runs in the top of the ninth for the final margin.
NKU improves to 15-12 overall and 6-4 in Horizon League play while YSU falls to 6-22 overall and 3-6 in league action.
Ian Francis set a new career high with three hits as he went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs while Trey Law went 2-for-5 with an RBI single. The Penguins outhit the Norse 10-9 for the contest.
YSU starter Travis Perry took the loss after allowing five runs, three of them earned, on four hits and five walks over 4.1 innings. Braden Gebhardt was responsible for four runs on three hits and four walks over 3.2 innings of relief. Patrick Gumto was charged with four runs on two hits and three walks while recording one out. Brandin Anderson came on to record the final two outs in the top of the ninth.
The Penguins took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Padraig O'Shaughnessy hit a one-out single and scored on a sacrifice fly from Andre Good.
The Norse scored three runs on two hits and an error in the top of the fourth take a 3-1 edge. Liam McFadden-Ackman and John Odom drew back-to-back walks to begin the inning, and McFadden-Ackman scored on one-out RBI single by Colton Kucera. Nick Wimmers drove home Odom with a sacrifice fly, and Kucera scored on two-out RBI single by Adam Schneider.
Northern Kentucky pushed its advantage to 6-1 with three more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Noah Fisher drew a leadoff walk and scored on a wild pitch, Jayden Wakeham drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Kucera delivered a two-out RBI single.
YSU pushed across a single run in the home half of the fifth to cut NKU's lead to 6-2. Eli Brown hit a one-out triple to right center and Law followed with an RBI single.
The Penguins scored another single run in the bottom of the sixth to draw within 6-3. Matt Thompson hit a leadoff single, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Francis.
The Norse pushed their lead back to five runs in the top of the eighth when Manny Voorhees hit a two-run double to left center to put his team ahead 8-3.
Youngstown State stayed within striking distance with two runs in the home half of the eighth. Pitches hit both Padraig O'Shaughnessy and RJ Sherwood and both runners scored on a two-run double down the left field line by Francis that shaved NKU's lead to 8-5.
NKU responded with five runs on two hits in the top of the ninth to pull away for the 13-5 victory.
Northern Kentucky starter Clay Brock allowed three runs, two of them earned, on eight hits over six innings to earn the victory. Kyle Klingenbeck surrendered two runs on one hit in 1.1 innings of relief before Matthew Lopez came on to toss 1.2 scoreless innings and pick up the save.
Kucera went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored to pace the Norse offensively.
The Penguins and Norse will continue their three-game Horizon League series at Eastwood Field on Friday at 3 p.m.
