Evan McDole drove in four runs Saturday to help NKU sweep Saint Joseph's.
Game 1 box score |
Game 2 box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University received a pair of outstanding performances from its starting pitchers Saturday afternoon and swept a doubleheader from Saint Joseph's.
Dave Middendorf scattered three hits in seven innings in the opener as NKU rolled to a 9-2 victory over the Pumas. The Norse completed the sweep with a 5-1 win in the nightcap as starter
Brandon Slusher allowed just two hits in six innings.
NKU improved to 19-7 overall, 9-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Saint Joseph's dropped to 10-9 overall, 4-4 in the GLVC.
Middendorf (5-1) struck out 11 batters and allowed only an unearned run for NKU, which is ranked 24th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. It marked the third straight start in which Middendorf has struck out at least 10 batters.
The Norse plated two runs in each of the first three innings to build a 6-0 lead and cruised behind Middendorf's pitching.
Evan McDole and
Bryan Rose each collected three hits and two runs batted in for NKU in the first game.
Brian Erie also drove in two runs for the Norse, who sealed the win by scoring three times in the sixth inning.
Jason Cisper went 2-for-5 and scored two runs in the opener.
In the nightcap, McDole's two-run double in the first inning gave NKU an early 2-0 lead.
Jeff Bohlen singled in another run in the third to make it 3-0, and the Norse capped their scoring in the fourth by plating two more runs.
Slusher struck out four batters and allowed an unearned run to improve to 2-0.
Kevin Jordan pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Norse.
Cisper was 3-for-4 and scored two more runs in the second game. The senior outfielder leads the GLVC in hitting with a .485 batting average.
NKU and Saint Joseph's conclude the four-game series Sunday, beginning with a noon doubleheader. The Norse then play host to Urbana for a single game Tuesday at 3 p.m.
