April 22, 2000

AKER RECORDS 800TH CAREER VICTORY

NKU defeats Saint Joseph’s, 4-3, to give Aker victory No. 800

RENSSELAER, Ind. - Bryan Ayers and Andy Cox combined to hold Saint Joseph’s College to three runs Saturday afternoon as Northern Kentucky University head coach Bill Aker won his 800th career game with a 4-3 victory over the Pumas in the second game of a doubleheader at Gil Hodges Field.

Ayers pitched eight innings and allowed just six hits and three runs, and Cox finished off Saint Joseph’s in the ninth inning to give Aker his 800th career victory. Aker is now 800-566-1 in 29 years at NKU.

Matt Mason’s two-run single in the sixth inning gave the Norse a 4-3 lead, and NKU held Saint Joseph’s scoreless the final four innings. NKU snapped an eight-game losing streak with the victory and improved to 21-22 overall, 5-13 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Saint Joseph’s won the first game, 6-3, as the Pumas scored six runs in the second inning. Anthony Avila’s three-run double highlighted the scoring for Saint Joseph’s.

GAME 1-SAINT JOSEPH’S 6, NKU 3

NKU 000/003/0 3 5 2

SJC 060/000/x 6 8 0

WP-Regas. LP-Pfetzer. SV-Gruzewski. HITTING LEADERS: SJC-Avila 3-3, 2B, 3 RBI; Norton 2-3.

GAME 2-NKU 4, SAINT JOSEPH’S 3

NKU 200/002/000 4 11 1

SJC 200/010/000 3 7 2

WP-Ayers. LP-Nawrocki. SV-Cox. HITTING LEADERS: NKU-Martin 3-5; Lubbe 2-4; Mason 2 RBI; Styles 2-2. SJC-Downs 2-4; Norton 2-2. RECORDS: NKU 21-22, 5-13 GLVC; SJC 25-19, 11-8 GLVC.