Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Evan McDole's sixth-inning home run capped a 10-run comeback for the Northern Kentucky University baseball team and led to a doubleheader sweep of Lake Erie in Thursday's matinee.

McDole hit the game-tying home run in Game 1 to lead NKU to an 11-10 comeback victory before hitting a second bomb in Game 2 as the Norse claimed an 11-4 win. With the victories, NKU is now 13-5 on the season and has won eight of its last nine games.

After Lake Erie (4-6) scored six runs in the top of the first inning, McDole got the Norse on the board with a sacrifice fly to plate Patrick Muth. The Storm, however, would continue to pour on the offense, scoring one run in the second inning and two more in the fourth.

A Matt Toth RBI triple in the top of the fifth inning extended the Lake Erie lead to nine runs before the Norse began their comeback in the bottom of the frame. Singles by Randy Jones and Jason Cisper set the table for McDole to lace an RBI double to right field.

Jeff Bohlen continued the action with a sacrifice fly to score Cisper before Joe Mack pulled a ground ball through the right side to plate McDole. Brian Erie closed out the fifth inning with a two-run double, cutting the Storm advantage to 10-6.

Muth's two-run double in the sixth inning followed by McDole's blast gave the Norse a new ball game entering the decisive seventh inning.

A single by Shannon McCormick and a pair of walks loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh for Muth, who dropped a single into center field to win the game for the Norse.

Kevin Jordan (3-1) pitched the game's final two innings to pick up the win, striking out two batters in the process.

McDole was 3-for-3 in the game with four RBIs while Jones, Muth and Cisper each claimed two-hit games.

Game 2 saw the Norse jump ahead early, scoring four runs in the second inning to push out to the early lead on RBIs from Stevie Gipson-Eberhardt, Jake Morris, Derek Jones and Muth.

NKU picked up three more runs in the fourth inning thanks in part to a Morris two-run homer. Derek Jones manufactured a run later in the inning when he was hit by a pitch, stole second base and came around to score on a throwing error.

McDole's second home run of the day again came in the sixth inning, this time in the three-run variety. McDole now has 24 career home runs at NKU and stands fifth all-time and trails his father, Kevin, by one for fourth.

Jim Ryan (1-0) got his first career start and victory, giving up four hits and two runs while striking out four batters in four innings of work. Josh Blaum worked the game's final three innings to earn the save.

NKU continues its string of seven games in four days tomorrow when the Norse hit the road to open a four-game series at Great Lakes Valley Conference rival Bellarmine. First pitch for tomorrow's doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m.