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By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information FLORENCE, Ky. – The Nothern Kentucky University baseball team cruised to its 10th consecutive victory by sweeping in-state foe Kentucky State by scores of 12-5 and 17-2 on Tuesday. After KSU’s Adam Stucker doubled and later scored on a wild pitch to open the scoring in the top of the second inning of Game 1, NKU was able to plate three runs in the third on RBI base hits from John Pasquale and Ian Durbin. Pasquale knocked in two more in the fourth on a single up the middle. The Norse got three more in the fifth and four in the sixth, punctuated by Pat Williams’s two-run single. Durbin led the offense in Game 1, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Pasquale and Williams each notched two hits. Kevin Quick (2-2) got the complete-game victory, giving up three earned runs on five hits while striking out four. The Thorobreds used two groundouts and a well-timed single to plate lead off hitter Leon McKissic to open Game 2, but would not find much success after that. Brad Johnson put the Norse ahead for good in the bottom half with his first home run of the season, a three-run bomb to left field. Johnson drove in two more in the second on a single up the middle that careened off of KSU pitcher Rob Wilson. Durbin and Williams got back into the offensive mix in the third inning with RBI base hits to plate two runs. Jack Ambrose extended his team-best hitting streak to 12 games as he led off the fourth with a double to right, later scoring on a passed ball. Williams put the exclamation point on the game in the bottom of the fifth, jacking a three-run home run to right center in the midst of a seven-run explosion by the Norse. Twelve different Norse claimed base hits in Game 2, with Durbin again going 3-for-4 on the contest. Williams was also 3-for-4 with four RBIs, while Johnson went 2-for-3 with five RBIs. Chas Moore (1-0) got the win in his NKU debut, striking out two batters in four innings of work. Cody Besselman pitched two innings of scoreless relief, claiming four strikeouts. Northern Kentucky (21-13) continues its six-game home stand this weekend, hosting Indianapolis for a Great Lakes Valley Conference weekend series. Doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday are scheduled for noon starts. |
