HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Shaun Erie’s run-scoring single in the sixth inning snapped a 2-2 tie Saturday and gave Northern Kentucky University a 3-2 win over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in the first game of a doubleheader at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex at Friendship Field.
Wisconsin-Parkside held a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning, but consecutive singles by Keith Jackson and Jerrod Fraley put runners on first and second with no out. Craig Craddock then reached on an error by third baseman Cory Patterson to load the bases.
An RBI single by Chris Osterkamp cut the lead to 2-1, and Conor McGeehan followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2. Erie then delivered an RBI single that scored Craddock with the go-ahead run.
NKU starter Mike Marksbury retired the Rangers in order in the seventh to notch his fourth victory of the season. Marksbury picked up five strikeouts and allowed just two hits in seven innings.
In the nightcap, Josh Perkins went 3-for-5 with two RBI to lead NKU to a 10-7 victory. Perkins’ two-run single in the sixth inning snapped a 5-5 tie and gave NKU the lead for good.
Fraley added three hits and an RBI for NKU, which improved to 16-11 overall, 9-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Lewis Jones finished with three hits and two runs scored, while Erie had two hits and scored twice.
NKU will wrap up its three-game series with Wisconsin-Parkside with a noon contest on Sunday.
Shaun Erie