---Jon Back was a combined 3-for-6 with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base.

By Chad Hensley, NKU Sports Information

FLORENCE, Ky. – The recipe for success in baseball has always been strong starting pitching and lead-off batters reaching base and that is exactly what Northern Kentucky University used to cook up a doubleheader sweep of in-state rival Kentucky Wesleyan.

NKU (11-12, 7-2 GLVC) defeated KWC by final scores of 10-0 and 3-0.

Game 1 saw Ryan Schmidt (4-0) and Eric Braeckel combined to give up no runs on five hits while striking out ten Panthers (6-21, 1-9 GLVC). Schmidt started the game and went six innings for the win while Braeckel pitched the final three innings for his second save of the season.

NKU struggled at the plate early on but things really started to heat up in the bottom of the sixth inning with four consecutive singles – Jason Cisper, Larry Pempek, Jeff Bohlen, and Jack Ambrose - to begin the inning.

Bohlen’s single plated Cisper for the first run of the game.

The Norse would pack on eight more runs before KWC would get out of the inning. After all was said and done, NKU scored nine runs in the frame on eight hits, including two by Pempek and Ambrose each.

NKU was able to get things rolling early on in Game 2 as they scored two runs in the bottom of the first to give starting pitcher Brandon Slusher (2-1) all the cushion he needed.

Jon Back and Pat Muth began the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles. Back would later score on a Kevin Dusold sacrifice fly. Muth scored on an Ambrose groundout to push the lead to 2-0.

Batting leaders for the Norse were Ambrose and Muth who combined to pace the NKU offense. Ambrose was 4-for-7 while Muth was 1-for-3 – both players had two RBIs and a run scored each.

Slusher, a graduate of Beechwood High School, gave up seven hits to the Panthers while striking out three and walking just two.

NKU and KWC will once again be back in action tomorrow with another doubleheader at Champion Window Field in Florence, Ky. to close out the weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

GAME 1 BOX SCORE

GAME 2 BOX SCORE