Feb. 23, 2001

NKU DEFEATS ASHLAND, 3-2

Walton’s RBI double propels Norse to the win

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Steve Walton’s run-scoring double with two out in the eighth inning Friday afternoon snapped a 2-2 tie and gave the Northern Kentucky University baseball team a 3-2 win over Ashland University at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex at Friendship Field. With one out in the eighth, Jason Martin hit a double and was replaced by pinch-runner Shaun Erie. Walton’s RBI double scored Erie with the go-ahead run, and senior closer Shaun Fausz retired Ashland in the ninth inning to pick up the save. Fausz recorded two strikeouts in the ninth to pick up his first save of the season. Senior Andy Cox recorded the win for NKU, which improved to 2-1. The Norse rallied from an early 2-0 deficit by scoring twice in the fourth inning on RBI doubles by Michael Tudor and Chris Osterkamp. NKU pitcher Kyle Pfetzer came out of the bullpen and threw four scoreless innings, and he also collected seven strikeouts for the Norse. NKU will conclude the two-game series with Ashland at 11 a.m. Saturday.  NKU 3, ASHLAND 2 AU --011/000/000-- 2 7 1 NKU --000/200/01x-- 3 5 1 WP-Cox. LP-Wright. SAVE-Fausz. HITTING LEADERS: NKU-Walton 1-4, 2B; Osterkamp 1-3, 2B; Tudor 1-3, 2B; Martin 1-3, 2B. AU-Holmes 2-4, 2B. RECORDS: NKU 2-1, Ashland 0-1.