Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A Jordan-esque performance on the mound helped Northern Kentucky University defeat Wayne State (Mich.) in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Tournament on Thursday.

NKU starting pitcher Kevin Jordan scattered six hits and did not allow an earned run as the Norse hung on for a 2-1 victory against Wayne State in the Midwest Regional Tournament. Jordan also struck out five batters and survived three errors by his defense to improve to 8-3 this season.

Jordan also set an NKU single-season record for innings pitched (103 2/3 innings) with the complete-game performance. NKU, ranked 22nd nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, improved to 42-15 overall and will meet Grand Valley State at 8 p.m. Friday in the winner's bracket.

Jordan – the rubber-armed left-hander who is normally NKU's relief specialist - outdueled Wayne State's Justin Mazur, who limited the Norse to just four hits. NKU pushed across single runs in the first and sixth innings, and held off a ninth-inning rally by Wayne State that ended with center fielder Max Colaner making a diving catch of a sinking liner off the bat of Kyle Vesey with runners on first and second.

Colaner's catch preserved NKU's win and allowed the Norse to snap a streak of three straight losses to Wayne State. The Warriors, in fact, eliminated NKU from the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Evan McDole's run-scoring single in the first inning plated Jason Cisper to give NKU a 1-0 lead. Bryan Rose advanced to third on McDole's hit, giving the Norse runners on the corners with one out.

Shannon McCormick followed with a fly ball to center field, and Rose attempted to score after Vesey's catch. Vesey, however, gunned down Rose at the plate to stop the NKU threat.

NKU added an insurance run in the sixth when McCormick lined a hit up the middle to drive in McDole from second to make it 2-0. McDole was hit by a pitch with two outs and then stole second base.

Jordan, who was named the Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year earlier in the day, was in control most of the way. McCormick's second error of the game kept a Wayne State rally alive in the ninth inning, and the Warriors finally scored when pinch-hitter Brad Guenther laid down a perfectly-placed bunt single to drive in Ryan LaPensee from third with two outs.

Vesey stepped to the plate and hit a sinking liner to right-center field, but Colaner raced in and made the diving catch to end the game.

Wayne State, the champion of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, dropped to 32-19. NKU is the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Regional, while Wayne State is No. 4. Southern Indiana is the top seed and host for the tournament.

The double-elimination Midwest Region Tournament runs through Sunday, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division II World Series at Cary, N.C.

NOTE: Prior to Thursday, NKU's last complete-game performance in postseason play came from Derrik Moeves on May 12, 2005, a 2-1 win against Quincy in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.