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By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team started its Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule on the right foot, using a doubleheader sweep on Sunday to win a three-game series against defending GLVC champion Drury. Kevin Dusold’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to plate Brett Hofmann was all Ryan Schmidt needed to take the two-hit shutout decision, 1-0. Schmidt (1-0) fanned six batters while walking just two. Jake Shaffer was 2-for-3 at the plate, providing a majority of NKU’s offense on the game. In Game 2 it was a big third inning that gave the Norse the edge they needed. Shaffer drove in his ninth run of the season, bringing in Jon Back for the 1-0 advantage. After Evan McDole hit a sacrifice fly to score Brett Hofmann, Shaffer came around on an error to extend the lead to three. Back added another with an RBI single in the sixth, bringing around Jeff Bohlen. Drury came back in the top of the seventh, cutting the lead in half with a pair of RBI singles. However, the Panthers would never see the lead, with NKU scoring another run in the bottom half to get the 5-2 final score. McDole went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Norse offense, which spread seven hits among six different starters. Dave Middendorf (2-2) pitched 6 2/3 innings, striking out three in the victory. Brandon Slusher picked up two strikeouts in his first save of the season. Northern Kentucky (5-9, 2-1 GLVC) returns home on Wednesday to host UC Clermont in the season’s home opener. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. |
