 |
By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information FLORENCE, Ky. - Aaron Mentz provided the power while Andy Karpowicz brought the finesse and the Northern Kentucky University baseball team topped Wilmington, 9-2. Mentz was 3-for-5 with a pair of solo home runs and a double to lead the offense for NKU. Drew Rushing joined in the party with a 3-for-4 performance, while Jon Back drove in three runs on the day. The Norse got two runs in the third inning off RBIs from Back and Kevin Dusold to open the scoring. After Wilmington got the runs back in the top of the fourth, NKU scored three more thanks to back-to-back doubles from Brett Hoffman and Back. Jake Shaffer added an RBI-single to the mix as well. Mentz's first long-ball came with one out in the fifth, as the sophomore pushed the first pitch he saw just right of the scoreboard to push the lead to four. Hoffmann added another run on a two-out RBI-single. Mentz opened the seventh frame with another home run, this time to the left of the outfield structure to bring his season total to four. Back later sacrificed Brad Johnson in to get the final score. Karpowicz (3-0) pitched six strong innings to get the win, allowing four hits and two runs while fanning eight batters. Kevin Quick and Cameron Betourne combined to pitch three innings of shutout ball in relief. The win snapped a five-game losing streak as the Norse (25-19) enter their final home weekend of 2008. NKU will host Wisconsin-Parkside for a four-game Great Lakes Valley Conference series. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. each day. Sunday is Senior Day, when the team will honor its seniors in a pre-game ceremony. |
