---Jason Cisper (3) welcomes Max Colaner (7) after scoring the winning run in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against Quincy.

By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information

Game 1 box | Game 2 box

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Strong pitching performances and clutch hitting drove the Northern Kentucky University baseball team to its first wins of the season, sweeping a doubleheader against Quincy by identical 3-2 scores.

After a pair of costly throwing errors gave the Hawks their first run in the top of the second inning, Jake Morris responded with an RBI-single in the bottom of the frame to score Jack Ambrose, who had singled to open the inning. Brandon England put Quincy back on top in the fourth, driving in Adam Cunningham with an RBI-single.

Evan McDole provided the difference-maker in the fifth inning, belting a two-out, two-run home run to put the Norse up for good. Kevin Jordan and Matt Winterhalter combined to hold Quincy scoreless in the game’s final two innings.

Jordan (1-0) got the win pitching two innings in relief of Sean Munninghoff, who struck out three in the start. Winterhalter’s three-strikeout, two-walk inning was good enough for his first save of the season.

Game 2 saw the Norse jump out to a first-inning lead, with Joe Mack picking up an RBI on an odd sacrifice fly to first base, scoring Brett Hoffman, and Ambrose singling in McDole. The Hawks came back with one swing of the bat as England pushed a ball to right field and let the wind carry it over the wall for his first long ball of the season.

Neither team could gain an advantage until extra innings, when the Norse led off the eighth with a double off the wall in left field by Max Colaner that missed ending the game by about 10 feet. After Ambrose took a free pass Kevin Dusold drove a ball to left center field that England was able to track down. Pat Muth then came up with a winner, driving a 2-1 pitch over Kory Coe’s head in left field to score Colaner and give the Norse the win.

Winterhalter (1-0), who, again, came in relief of Jordan in the seventh, got the win, pitching two innings without allowing a hit as the Norse used five pitchers in the victory. Jared Fisher (1-1) took the loss for Quincy.

NKU improves to 2-3 on the season, while Quincy falls to 3-5. The two teams will wrap up the four-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

SCHEDULE NOTE: NKU’s doubleheader against Tiffin has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 3, at 1 p.m. Fans without parking permits should plan on using Lot S (gravel lot) or the lot at Grein Softball Field when attending.