CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – Tyler Choate blasted a solo home run over the right-field wall with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday night to give Southern Indiana a 4-3 win against Northern Kentucky University in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional.
NKU (40-21) held a 3-0 lead going into the seventh inning, but Southern Indiana (38-17) rallied for three runs to tie the game at 3-all. The Norse put runners on first and third with one out in the top of the ninth inning, but a failed squeeze attempt set the stage for Choate's winning homer in the bottom of the inning.
NKU reliever
Matt Winterhalter retired the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth and gained an 0-1 advantage in the count with Choate at the plate. Choate then deposited Winterhalter's second delivery over the right-field wall for a walk-off homer, snapping NKU's winning streak at five games.
NKU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning as
Jason Cisper singled, moved to second on a sacrifice by Pat Muth and came home on
Kevin Dusold's run-scoring single.
Norse starter
Dave Middendorf took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, but Southern Indiana sent eight batters to the plate and tied the contest at 3-all.
Middendorf, who was relieved by
Kevin Jordan in the seventh, worked 6 1/3 innings and struck out eight batters. He also allowed two earned runs.
NKU will meet top-seeded Ashland at 3 p.m. Friday in the double-elimination tournament. Ashland defeated Rockhurst in the first round Thursday afternoon.
NKU, which is now 0-3 against Southern Indiana in 2009, did not play Ashland during the regular season.
