HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Junior right-hander Dizzy Peyton allowed just five hits and one run in six innings Thursday as Northern Kentucky University defeated Ashland University, 6-1, in the first game of a doubleheader at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex at Friendship Field.
Peyton held Ashland scoreless through the first five innings before finally surrendering a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Butch Kaufman. The Norse, however, scored twice in the bottom of the sixth on run-scoring doubles by Chris Meyer and Lewis Jones to extend their lead to 6-1.
Justin Seiter pitched a scoreless seventh inning to seal the victory for NKU, which finished with nine hits in the opener. Keith Jackson hit his second home run of the season to spark the NKU offense, while Jones went 3-for-3 with an RBI.
In the nightcap, Ashland used a 21-hit attack to post a 16-4 win over NKU. The Eagles chased NKU starter Kyle Frye in the first inning by scoring six runs on seven hits, including back-to-back home runs by Adam Whetstone and Brandon Cornell.
Ashland added four runs in the second inning and coasted to the win. Cornell finished with four hits and a pair of home runs, while Allen Ayers added three hits and four RBI.
Josh Perkins had two RBI to lead NKU, while Jackson collected a pair of doubles for the Norse. Jerrod Fraley added two hits for NKU, which is ranked No. 6 in the latest NCAA Division II North Central Region poll.
NKU is 19-13 overall, while Ashland - ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Division II North Central Region poll - is 20-9-1. The Norse will resume Great Lakes Valley Conference play Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Missouri-St. Louis - which swept a doubleheader from Quincy University on Thursday - leads the GLVC with an 11-3 record. NKU is in second place with an 11-5 mark.
Missouri-St. Louis is also 23-6 overall and is No. 1 in the NCAA Division II North Central Region poll. A year ago, NKU defeated the Rivermen in all four meetings, including a 10-7 victory in the GLVC Tournament.
Dizzy Peyton