Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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NORMAL, Ill. – Just a freshman, Northern Kentucky University's Zac Asman has become a nemesis for Missouri S&T in his first season as a collegiate baseball player.

Asman's run-scoring single in the top of the ninth inning snapped a 2-all tie and lifted NKU to a 3-2 victory over Missouri S&T on Friday night in the second round of the Midwest Regional Tournament. It marked the second time this season that Asman has beaten Missouri S&T with a late-inning hit.

On March 27, Asman's two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning snapped a 5-all tie and gave NKU a 7-5 victory over Missouri S&T in Florence, Ky.

NKU (36-19) will get the next shot at trying to knock off Grand Valley State, the nation's top-ranked NCAA Division II baseball team and winners of 30 consecutive games. The two teams will meet at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) in the winner's bracket, with the survivor advancing to Sunday's championship round.

Grand Valley State enters Saturday with a 50-3 record after posting an 8-4 win over Quincy on Friday. The top-seeded Lakers have not lost since April 9.

Tied at 2-all entering the top of the ninth inning on Friday, Bradley Vanderglas drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on Brett Cisper's single. Asman stepped to the plate and singled down the right-field line on a 2-0 pitch to drive in Vanderglas with the go-ahead run.

NKU starter Andy Heston made the lead stand in the bottom of the inning and notching the complete-game victory. Heston finished with six strikeouts and allowed just one earned run.

Heston, a senior right-hander from Wilmore, Ky., is now 9-1 this season.

Asman, a freshman second baseman and Elder High School graduate, was 2-for-5 on Friday night. NKU collected seven hits as a team and stranded 10 runners on base.

Friday's victory was the 398th at NKU for head coach Todd Asalon, who is in his 11th season with the Norse.

The NKU/Grand Valley State winner will advance to Sunday's championship round and need just one victory to claim the regional title. The regional champion will advance to the NCAA Division II World Series in Cary, N.C., May 28-June 4.

NOTE: The NKU/Grand Valley State game can be heard live on 1160 AM at 1 p.m. Saturday. If NKU loses that game, the Norse's second contest on Saturday will be broadcast on Internet-only at www.nkunorse.com.