NKU dropped a 5-2 decision at Southern Indiana on Friday night.
Box score
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team began a four-game series against 16th-ranked Southern Indiana on Friday night, and the Screaming Eagles posted a 5-2 win over the Norse in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.
Southern Indiana pitcher Trevor Leach scattered six hits and struck out eight batters en route to the complete-game victory. The Screaming Eagles built a 3-0 lead after four innings and rode the pitching of Leach to win their fifth consecutive game.
Southern Indiana is 19-8 overall, 11-2 in the GLVC. NKU is 15-13 overall, 5-8 in the GLVC.
Trailing 3-0 in the sixth inning, NKU rallied for a pair of unearned runs to make it 3-2. Southern Indiana, however, answered by scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth to extend its advantage to 5-2.
NKU loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but Leach struck out
Bradley Vanderglas to end the threat.
Brian Erie led the NKU offense by going 2-for-3. Norse starter
Matt Jefferson (0-2) went six innings and allowed nine hits and five runs. He also struck out five batters.
Taylore Baker pitched two scoreless innings of relief for NKU.
Reece Rounder was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in for Southern Indiana.
NKU and Southern Indiana continue the series Saturday with a 3 p.m. doubleheader and wrap up the weekend Sunday with a single game.
