Max Colaner (7) hit a grand slam and drove in five runs to help NKU to a 12-11 victory over Montevallo on Sunday.
Box score
MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Another dramatic back-and-forth contest saw the Northern Kentucky University baseball team take a 12-11 decision at Montevallo to end the season's opening series on a winning note.
NKU, ranked No. 15 in the NCAA Division II national poll, now goes to 2-1 on the season.
The Norse opened the scoring in the top of the second inning when
Brett Cisper singled in
Brian Erie, who singled on a 2-0 pitch to open the frame. The Norse picked up three more runs in the fourth inning thanks to a two-run single by
Brad Clement and a sacrifice fly from
Max Colaner to open a four-run lead.
The Falcons came back to put a five-spot on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning and take the lead, thanks in part to a pair of Norse errors in the field. Montevallo added two more in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 7-4.
Colaner got the Norse back in it on one swing of the bat, hitting his second career grand slam over the wall in left field to give NKU the 8-7 edge. Montevallo, however, came right back with two more in the bottom half to retake the lead, 9-8.
Cisper, who went 4-for-4 on the day, picked up his second RBI-single in the seventh inning, driving in Erie once again to tie the game. The freshman would then score on a wild pitch to take a 10-9 lead.
Bryan Rose followed in the eighth inning with a solo home run, his first of the year, and to extend the lead. Clement finished his 3-for-3 day with an RBI-single in the ninth inning to add another insurance run.
The Norse used eight pitchers in the contest, with
Andy Heston (1-0) picking up the win in relief, tallying three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Brent Wagner picked up his first career save after a shaky ninth inning saw Montevallo score a pair of runs to cut the lead to just one. However, Rose came up with a clutch grab down the right field line to end the game.
Leadoff hitter
Zac Asman claimed a 2-for-4 day as well.
The Norse take to the road again next weekend for a three-game series at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia, Ark.
