Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Game 1 box score | Game 2 box score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – A late-season run has vaulted the Northern Kentucky University baseball team into position to claim a spot in the upcoming Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, and the Norse added two more victories Friday afternoon.

NKU swept a doubleheader from visiting Wisconsin-Parkside, rolling to a 12-0 win in the first game and later posting a 9-5 victory in the nightcap. The Norse have won five straight games and eight of their past 10 contests to improve to 24-17 overall, 14-12 in the GLVC.

Brian Erie was 4-for-4 and scored three runs in the opener to lead NKU. Brad Clement and Bryan Rose each hit home runs for the Norse, who scored in every inning.

Andy Heston improved to 8-0 after allowing just two hits in five inning of work. Heston also finished with five strikeouts.

In the nightcap, Max Colaner hit a three-run homer in the second inning to ignite NKU's 9-5 victory. After walks to Rose and Shannon McCormick in the second, Jake Morris staked the Norse to a 1-0 lead with a run-scoring single. One out later, Colaner launched his third homer of the season over the fence in left-center field to extend NKU's advantage to 4-0.

The Norse added three more runs in the third to make it 7-0. Wisconsin-Parkside responded with a four-run outburst in the fifth inning, but NKU answered by plating two runs in the sixth.

The Rangers eventually cut the NKU lead to 9-5 and had the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning, but Brent Wethington worked out of the jam by getting Kirk Haviland to pop out to end the game.

Norse head coach Todd Asalon now has 386 career victories in 11 years at NKU and 535 wins overall.

NKU wraps up the four-game series against Wisconsin-Parkside at noon Saturday with a doubleheader. The Norse will also recognize their seniors and their families on Saturday afternoon.