Northern Kentucky scored the final three runs of the game to defeat the Youngstown State baseball team 4-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex in Highland Heights, Ky.

The Norse jumped ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning before the Penguins evened the score in the top of the third. NKU posted a single run in the sixth to regain the upper hand, and it added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to even the Horizon League series at one game apiece.

YSU starter Brandon Mikos suffered the hard-luck loss after allowing two runs on four hits with a career-high seven strikeouts over a season-high 5.1 innings on the mound. Braden Gebhardt was responsible for two runs on four hits in 2.2 innings out of the bullpen.

Trey Law and Ian Francis had two hits apiece while Brett Stanley and Chase Franken each singled. Alejandro Covas drove in YSU's only run as the Penguins were outhit 8-6.

The Norse struck first with a single run in the bottom of the second inning. Tyler Shaneyfelt reached with a leadoff bunt single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Logen Devenport and scored on a two-out RBI double by Jake Paulick.

The Penguins responded immediately with a single tally of their own in the top of the third to even the score at 1-1. Law hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on Stanley's flyout and scored on a sacrifice fly from Covas.

Northern Kentucky regained the lead with another single run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Liam McFadden-Ackman drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a double by Shaneyfelt and scored on a sacrifice fly from Devenport to give NKU a 2-1 advantage.

The Norse added a pair of insurance runs in the home half of the eighth to push their lead to 4-1. McFadden-Ackman drew a leadoff walk, pinch hitter Peyton Lane reached with a bunt single and both runners advanced 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Shaneyfelt. Devenport then delivered a two-run double down the left field line to give NKU its three-run cushion.

NKU starter Tanner Gillis allowed one run on five hits with seven strikeouts over six innings to earn his fifth victory of the season. Nick McClanahan surrendered just one hit with four strikeouts over three scoreless innings of relief.

Shaneyfelt went 3-for-3 to lead the Norse offensively while Devenport doubled and drove in three runs.

The Penguins will go for their third straight Horizon League series victory on Sunday at noon in the rubber match with the Norse.