Patrick Hyde launches his walk-off home run against Saint Joseph's.
Photo gallery |
Game 1 box score |
Game 2 box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – With one swing of the bat, Patrick Hyde ended a scoreless pitchers' duel and gave Northern Kentucky University a much-needed sweep Saturday afternoon.
NKU swept a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader from Saint Joseph's, winning the opener by a 5-4 score and later walking off with a 1-0 decision on Hyde's home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. It marked the first time this season that the Norse completed a sweep of a GLVC doubleheader.
Andy Heston, making the first start of his career, tossed a two-hitter in the nightcap. The senior right-hander, normally NKU's closer, notched the complete-game shutout and struck out 11 batters. He is now 6-0 this season with a 0.84 earned run average.
Hyde gave NKU the victory with one out in the seventh by hammering an 0-1 delivery from Saint Joseph's starter Eric Meyerchick over the left-field wall. It was the third home run of the season for Hyde, a sophomore catcher.
Senior pitcher
Dave Middendorf went the distance in the opener for NKU and upped his record to 5-2. Middendorf scattered eight hits and struck out a career-high 13 batters en route to the victory.
NKU scored four times in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead.
Brad Clement started the scoring with a two-run homer, his third of the season.
Brian Erie and
Jake Morris each added run-scoring doubles in the third inning.
Saint Joseph's eventually cut the NKU lead to 5-4 and had the potential tying run at second base with two outs in the ninth, but Middendorf struck out Joe Huber to end the game.
Morris went 4-for-4 in the opener for NKU, which improved to 18-15 overall, 8-10 in the GLVC. Saint Joseph's has now lost six consecutive games and is 18-13-1 overall, 11-7 in the GLVC.
The two teams conclude the series Sunday with another noon doubleheader.
