Conor McGeehan after scoring a run in the ninth

ALLENDALE, Mich. - Solid starting pitching normally keeps a baseball team in contention at tournament time, and Northern Kentucky University received exactly that during its stay at the NCAA Division II North Central Regional.

Unfortunately for the Norse, opposing starters turned in superlative performances and did not allow a run in two games during 13 combined innings on the mound.

Rockhurst right-hander Andrew Silver pitched seven shutout innings before turning it over to the bullpen Friday as the sixth-seeded Hawks eliminated NKU, 4-1, at the Grand Valley State Baseball Field. The second-seeded Norse (42-20-1) did not score until the top of the ninth inning, when Rockhurst reliever Logan McElwain wiggled out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out situation by allowing just one run.

In a 2-0 loss to Southern Illinois at Edwardsville in the first round Thursday, the NKU bats managed just six hits against Cougar pitching. SIUE starter Kyle Jones worked six innings before yielding to the bullpen in that game as NKU finished 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Friday turned out to be nearly the same, as NKU could not get a clutch hit with runners in scoring position.

Rockhurst (36-21) scored once in the third inning and added three runs in the fourth to build a 4-0 lead. Tyler Knust’s two-run single to right-center field keyed the three-run fourth for the Hawks.

Josh Bruns started against Rockhurst

NKU starter Josh Bruns (8-2) gave way to Matt Marksbury after the fourth inning. Marksbury did not allow a run in his four innings on the mound, but the Norse were unable to generate a big hit with runners in scoring position for the second straight game.

Conor McGeehan led off the top of the ninth with a single, and Matt Wagers walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Chris Nann followed with a single to left field to load the bases, but McElwain battled back and fanned designated hitter Nick D’Ippolito for the first out.

Josh Moulton followed with a ground out to first base to drive in McGeehan with NKU’s first run of the NCAA Tournament, but pinch-hitter Chris Wilson struck out to end the game.

McGeehan and Moulton each went 2-for-4 to lead the NKU attack. Rockhurst, however, turned three double plays to back the pitching of Silver (7-6) and McElwain.

Bruns allowed eight hits and three earned runs in his four innings on the mound. The junior left-hander did not walk a batter and had no strikeouts.

During the regular season, NKU won three of four games at Rockhurst. The Hawks countered by defeating NKU in the GLVC Tournament last week.

The 42 wins are the most for NKU since 1989, when the Norse finished 45-9.

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