Niles, Ohio – Northern Kentucky scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie and went on to defeat the Youngstown State baseball team 7-4 in the Horizon League series finale on Sunday afternoon at 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood.
Youngstown State scored twice in the bottom of the third inning before Northern Kentucky pulled even with one run in the fourth and one in the fifth. The Norse gained the lead with a three-run top of the seventh and held on to earn the series victory.
The Norse won the final two games of the three-game weekend series after the Penguins took the series opener on Friday night. NKU improves to 11-10 in Horizon League play while YSU drops to 7-11 in league action.
YSU was bested by NKU in the hit column, 12-8. Brady Shannon hit his league-leading 13th home run of the season while Garrett Cutting pushed his hitting streak to 10 straight games with an RBI double and his second home run in as many days. NKU pitchers limited the Guins to a total of four hits after the third inning of play, three of which came in the bottom of the ninth.
YSU starter Brandon Mikos suffered the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts over a season-high six innings pitched. Luke Zmolik was responsible for three runs over three innings out of the bullpen.
The Penguins scored the first two runs of the game in bottom of the third inning to take an early lead. Nic Goodwin hit a leadoff double and scored on Cutting's RBI double before Shannon hit a towering, 470-foot solo home run to left center field.
The Norse evened the score with single runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. Jake Paulick drew a leadoff walk to begin the top of the fourth and scored on a two-out RBI single by Ethan Thomas. NKU tied the score on a solo home run from Alex Brazer in the top of the fifth.
The score remained the same until Northern Kentucky plated three runs on four hits in the top of the seventh to take a 5-2 lead. Landon Springmeyer hit a leadoff triple and scored on a pinch-hit single from Zach Pomatto. Pinch runner Peter Krumins moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and was able to race all the way home on a sacrifice fly to deep right field by Pierce Bauerle. Paulick reached with a two-out double and scored on an RBI single by Josh Williams to give the Norse a three-run edge. Paulick hit a two-out, two-run homer to right center in the top of the ninth to give NKU a pair of insurance runs.
Cutting belted his fifth home run of the season to begin the bottom of the ninth for the Penguins. Shannon singled and Ryan Schummer followed with a walk to prompt NKU's second pitching change of the inning. Rossi reached on a fielder's choice and Shannon scored from third on Nathan Beckley's RBI single to force the Norse to change pitchers for a third time. Gerald Hanson came out of the bullpen to induce a pop out and a game-ending strikeout to earn the save.
NKU starter Cody Little surrendered two runs on four hits over 2.1 innings in a no-decision. Tannis Lange tossed 2.2 scoreless innings as the first of six relievers to appear for the Norse. Jared Teke was awarded the win after working 1.2 scoreless innings while Gabe Stout allowed one run in 1.1 innings.
Paulick finished 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored to pace Northern Kentucky offensively.
Youngstown State is scheduled to continue its seven-game homestand on Wednesday with a non-league contest against Eastern Michigan. First pitch at 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood is set for 5 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on 1390 WNIO and the iHeartRadio app.
