Adam Bell recorded his first career victory

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University baseball team swept a doubleheader from Rio Grande (Ohio) by scores of 9-2 and 3-2 on Wednesday at the Bill Aker Complex at Friendship Field.

Sophomore left-hander Adam Bell pitched four scoreless innings during the opener and recorded his first career victory as the Norse rolled to the 9-2 win. Bell, a graduate of Campbell County High School, scattered three hits and struck out four batters.

Kory Lonergan went 3-for-4 and scored two runs to lead the Norse offense. Alex Frank was 2-for-2 with two runs batted in for NKU.

In the second game, Matt Jones’ bases-loaded squeeze bunt in the bottom of the seventh inning was mishandled by third baseman Kevin Dolan and allowed Josh Moulton to score to winning run. Kenny Barnett pitched a scoreless inning of relief to pick up the win for NKU, which improved to 16-15 with the sweep.

Moulton doubled to lead off the seventh for NKU, and Jon Back followed with a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. Lonergan then sacrificed the runners over, and Jason Nintrup was intentionally walked.

That brought Jones to the plate, and he laid a bunt down the third-base line. The ball was bobbled by Dolan, and Moulton crossed the plate with the winning run.

The Norse will play a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader against Bellarmine on Thursday in Louisville, Ky. NKU will also hit the road for a four-game series at Missouri-St. Louis this Saturday and Sunday.

NKU is 8-6 in the GLVC.