Brett Cisper is greeted at home after hitting a grand slam in Game 2 for NKU.
Game 1 Box score Game 2 Box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –
Brett Cisper's grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 2 led the Northern Kentucky University baseball team to a doubleheader sweep over Illinois Springfield on Sunday afternoon.
The Norse improved to 7-9 overall, 2-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with the two wins.
NKU held a 4-1 after four innings, but Illinois Springfield scored four runs to take the lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Mark Mrowka took the mound to start the inning for the Prairie Stars. He walked the bases loaded and was replaced by Tyler McKay.
After Patrick Hyde flew out to center field,
Luke Greene drew yet another walk to bring
Phil Smith home for the tying run.
Cisper stepped to the plate and homered over the left field wall to give the Norse a 9-5 lead.
Max Colaner kept the NKU rally alive when he drew the fifth walk of the inning. He advanced to second on a successful stolen base attempt and also stole third after
Kris Hecktor was walked.
Brad Clement grounded out to pitcher Easton Kowalski, who replaced McKay after the Colaner walk, and Colaner scored on the play.
Zac Asman added the final run for NKU in the sixth inning.
Cisper finished 1-for-2 with a run and four RBIs for the Norse, while Asman went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Brett Loeding earned the win for NKU and improved to 3-1 on the season. He did not allow a run and only gave up two hits. He also collected five strikeouts in three innings of work.
Drew Campbell pitched six scoreless innings in Game 1 as NKU cruised to an 11-3 victory.
Campbell (3-1) only surrendered four hits and collected eight strikeouts. He did not walk a batter.
The Norse jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after the first inning, and the Prairie Stars could not find an offensive answer.
Colaner went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for NKU.
Stevie Gipson-Eberhardt finished 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
The Norse head to St. Louis next weekend for doubleheaders against Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday and Maryville on Sunday. Both days are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
