Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Game 1 box score | Game 2 box score | Game 3 box score

OWENSBORO, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University baseball head coach Todd Asalon recorded his 500th career victory Monday afternoon during a 10-0 win against Kentucky Wesleyan in the completion of a suspended game.

NKU then swept the regularly scheduled doubleheader from Kentucky Wesleyan, taking a 6-5 decision in 11 innings and then rallying for eight runs in its final at-bat en route to a 9-3 victory in the nightcap. The Norse improved to 39-12 overall, 23-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Norse, who have won 11 straight games, are ranked 17th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll.

Four pitchers combined on the shutout in the first game for NKU and held Kentucky Wesleyan to five hits. The game, which was suspended Sunday due to rain with the Norse holding a 1-0 lead in the second inning, was resumed Monday and NKU used a 13-hit attack to notch the road win.

Evan McDole, Bryan Rose, Shannon McCormick and Joe Mack all drove in two runs for NKU. McDole became NKU's all-time career leader in walks when he drew his 112th base on balls in Monday's first game. Chris Helfer owned the previous school record of 111, set from 1993-96.

Jason Cisper added to his list of NKU records by scoring his 65th run of the season in that victory. The previous Norse record was 64, set by Alan Hayden in 1985.

In the second game, NKU rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the seventh to force extra innings. Pat Muth tied the game at 5-all with a two-out RBI single that plated pinch-runner Derek Jones. Earlier in the seventh, Rose's sacrifice fly drove in Bradley Vanderglas to make it 5-4.

In the 11th inning, Jake Morris singled to drive in Larry Pempek with the go-ahead run. Kevin Jordan, who pitched eight innings of relief, retired Kentucky Wesleyan in the bottom of the 11th to notch his seventh win of the season. Jordan also struck out five batters.

In the third game of the day, NKU again rallied in its final at-bat. This time, the Norse sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight times to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 9-2 lead. Brian Erie led off with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Max Colaner, who advanced to second on a grounder by Mack.

Morris struck again for NKU, sending a single up the middle to drive in Colaner and tie the game at 2-all. Morris then stole second, and he later scored on Jeff Bohlen's RBI double.

A run-scoring double by Rose made it 4-2, and Muth followed with single to put runners on first and third. McDole then blasted a three-run homer to extend NKU's lead to 7-2, giving him 27 career home runs. The senior first baseman moved into a tie for second place on the Norse's all-time list with Tim Grogan and Kevin Dusold. It also gave him 170 career RBIs, just four behind the all-time NKU record of 174 held by John Heeter.

NKU added two more runs in the seventh on RBI doubles by Pempek and Mack to take a 9-2 advantage. Kentucky Wesleyan countered with a run in the bottom of the seventh, but starter Jarrett Casey picked up the complete-game victory after scattering nine hits and striking out six batters.

Asalon, in his 10th year at NKU, now has 502 career wins as a college head coach. He recorded 144 victories while the head coach at Thomas More and has 358 at NKU.

NKU concludes the regular season this weekend with four home games against Indianapolis. The teams meet Friday in a noon doubleheader, and then finish the series Sunday with two more games.