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May 4, 2002 |
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NKU CLINCHES GLVC’S NO. 1 SEED |
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Norse win regular-season title with sweep of SIUE |
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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Sophomore pitcher Chris Unkraut picked up nine strikeouts and a complete-game victory Saturday afternoon as the Northern Kentucky University baseball team clinched the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season championship with a 3-1 win over Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Unkraut, a graduate of Dixie Heights High School, scattered 13 hits in nine innings as NKU improved to 31-21 overall, 21-7 in the GLVC. The Norse also won the opener of the doubleheader on Saturday by a 10-8 score over SIUE. NKU earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming GLVC Tournament, which will be held May 9-12 at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex at Friendship Field. It is the first time since 1989 that NKU has won a GLVC regular-season championship. NKU - which has won 13 of its last 15 games - is ranked No. 2 in the latest NCAA II North Central Region poll. It marks the second straight season that the Norse have won at least 30 games. Pat Eschan tied an NKU record by hitting his 20th double of the season in the second game. Eschan also scored all three runs for the Norse. Senior catcher Jason Martin picked up three hits Saturday and now has 256 in his career. Martin needs just eight hits to become NKU’s all-time career leader in that category. Gary Flowerdew is currently NKU’s all-time leader with 263 hits. NKU will close out three three-game series against SIUE at 11 a.m. Sunday. It will also be Senior Day for the Norse’s eight seniors.
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