Paul David Patterson

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Paul David Patterson pitched five scoreless innings and struck out five batters as Northern Kentucky University opened the season Thursday with an 11-2 win over Wisconsin-Parkside at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex at Friendship Field.

Patterson, a 6-foot-8 senior right-hander, allowed just two hits and did not allow a walk. NKU used a 17-hit attack to defeat Wisconsin-Parkside, which is ranked 19th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll.

Wisconsin-Parkside was also the preseason pick to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Thursday’s game was a non-GLVC contest and does not count in the league standings.

Senior catcher Conor McGeehan smashed a home run and scored twice for NKU, while teammates Kenny Wilson and Nick D’Ippolito each had three hits. Chris Nann went 2-for-5 in his NKU debut with two runs batted in, and Matt Jones scored a pair of runs.

NKU scored single runs in each of the first three innings to build a 3-0 lead. The Norse added two runs in the fourth, and scored twice in the fifth for a 7-0 advantage.

The Norse will be back in action Saturday when defending regional champion Grand Valley State visits Highland Heights for a doubleheader at noon. Those games were originally scheduled for Champion Window Field in Florence, Ky., but were moved back to the NKU campus for this weekend only.

All other NKU home games will be played at Champion Window Field this season.

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