ASHLAND, Ohio - Scott Smith went 2-for-5 with a home run and three runs batted in Friday as Grand Valley State University posted a 7-4 win over Northern Kentucky University in an elimination game in the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Tournament.
Smith gave Grand Valley State (40-15) a 3-0 lead in the second inning when he hit an inside-the-park, three-run homer off NKU starter Matt Wiedeman. Smith hit a drive into the right-center gap, where NKU center fielder Craig Craddock made a diving attempt to catch the ball.
Craddock missed, however, and the ball rolled to the wall while Smith rounded the bases for the inside-the-park homer.
NKU (37-25) answered by scoring three times in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. A sacrifice fly by Matt Wagers cut the deficit to 3-1, and Justin Mundt fielder’s choice drove in Alex Frank to make it 3-2. Craddock later stole home with two outs to tie the contest at 3-3.
Grand Valley State scored twice in the fifth inning to take a 5-3 advantage. An RBI single by Tim Hudnall gave the Lakers a 4-3 lead, and they added an unearned run later in the inning to go up 5-3.
Grand Valley State scored two more runs in the seventh to take a 7-3 lead. NKU responded with a run in the bottom of the inning when Frank’s triple drove in Conor McGeehan, but that would be the final score for the Norse.
Shaun Erie ended his NKU career by going 4-for-5. The senior third baseman finished his Norse career with 231 hits, which ranks No. 3 in school history.
McGeehan, Frank and Lewis Jones each had two hits for NKU, which stranded 12 base runners. Wiedeman (9-2) allowed 13 hits and six earned runs in 6 2/3 innings on the mound.
NCAA II North Central Regional
(hosted by Ashland University)
Thursday, May 13
UW-Parkside 16, Grand Valley State 7
Ashland 5, Northern Kentucky 1
Friday, May 14
Grand Valley State 7, Northern Kentucky 4
Ashland 8, UW-Parkside 4
Grand Valley State 10, UW-Parkside 5
Saturday, May 15
Ashland vs. Grand Valley State, noon
Championship game 2 (if necessary), 3 p.m.
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Shaun Erie |