 |
By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team got its first chance on the green grass of the field on Saturday afternoon against Carson-Newman, and the results were less than exciting, as the Norse dropped both ends of a doubleheader by scores of 8-3 and 8-5. Three runs in the bottom of the first inning set the tone for the Eagles, punctuated by Corey Lamson’s two-run double to right. The Norse responded after Jeff Bohlen singled with two down in the third. Evan McDole was then hit by a pitch and Kevin Dusold drew a walk to load the bases before Bohlen scored on a failed pickoff attempt to cut the lead to two. Lamson tripled and score in the bottom of the fourth to give Carson-Newman what would prove to be the winning run. A sacrifice fly in the fifth and an error in the sixth gave the Eagles two more runs and doubled their lead to 5-1. The teams would trade runs in the seventh and eighth innings, with Pat Muth hitting NKU’s first home run of the season and Bohlen scoring for the second time in Game 1 on a fielder’s choice by Joe Mack. Bohlen went 3-for-5, scoring twice, while McDole was 2-for-4 on the contest. However, the game was marred by miscues all around, as each team committed four errors in the field. Sean Munninghoff (0-1) took the loss in the start for the Norse, striking out three and walking two in four innings of work. Eric Braeckel and Jay Hale combined to allow just one earned run between them. Ryan Hendrickson (1-0) struck out seven in the victory, while Corbin Ariail pitched 4 2/3 innings to record his first save of the season. Game 2 saw the Norse get off on to a strong start, jumping out to a two-run lead after Jack Ambrose and Jake Morris each claimed RBI singles in the top of the second inning. The Eagles answered in the bottom half of the frame on the shoulders of a pair of NKU errors. Wesley Dozier touched NKU’s Brandon Slusher for his first home run of the season to take the lead back in the third before the Eagles figured out the junior in the fourth, opening the inning with three straight base hits, knocking Slusher out of the game. Carson-Newman would score five runs in the fourth to break things open. The Norse looked to come back in the top of the seventh, starting things off with an infield single by Shannon McCormick. Morris followed with a double to left, giving Robby Liller a chance to drive in his first run of the season on a groundout. Bohlen followed suit with an RBI-single to left, making way for McDole, who slapped an RBI-double to center to cut the lead to three. With the Eagles on the ropes, Kevin Dusold stepped up looking to close the gap even further, but reliever D.J. Ferguson induced a groundout to short to end the game. Slusher (0-1) took the loss in relief of Ryan Schmidt, who pitched two innings, giving up a pair of unearned runs and striking out four. Kevin Jordan, Andy Heston and Brian Weis each gave an inning of work for the Norse. Morris claimed a 2-for-3 game with a run scored and an RBI. Bohlen had a stellar doubleheader at the plate, going 5-for-9 in the twin bill with an RBI and three runs scored. In an unfortunate reprise from Game 1, the Norse committed five errors in Game 2, the most since April 22, 2007, when the Norse had five errors in a 2-1 victory over Wisconsin-Parkside. Justin Higdon (2-0) struck out seven and walked one in five innings for the win, while Ferguson saved his first game of the season. Northern Kentucky (0-2) will wrap up the series with Carson-Newman (6-3) with a single game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. |
