Week 11 Midweek Notes
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team travels to Indianapolis on Wednesday to face Butler in non-conference action at Bulldog Park.
NKU improved to 8-31 overall and 3-12 in the Atlantic Sun Conference after earning its first series win of the season last weekend. After the Norse dropped a 4-1 decision to Jacksonville in the opener, NKU rebounded with a 4-3 victory on Saturday and then defeated the Dolphins 5-2 on Sunday to take the series.
First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. Live stats and broadcast information will be available at NKUNorse.com.
ABOUT BUTLER: Butler holds a 17-18 overall record and a 7-5 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Bulldogs host Wabash on Tuesday before facing NKU on Wednesday. Last weekend, No. 19 Indiana completed a three-game sweep of Butler with a 10-3 victory in the final game over the Bulldogs on Sunday.
Jimmy Risi leads Butler's offensive attack. He tops the Bulldogs in nearly every offensive category, including batting average (.349), runs (25), doubles (17) and home runs (6). Mike Kseniak boasts a .346 batting average with 19 RBIs and 15 runs scored, while Marcos Calderon is hitting at a .316 clip with 22 runs, six doubles, one triple and two home runs.
The Norse are expected to face left-handed pitcher Gunner Johnson on Wednesday. Johnson has compiled a 5.79 earned run average and 0-2 record over 23 1/3 innings of work. He has made nine appearances this season, including three starts. Johnson has also collected two saves on the year.
LAST TIME AGAINST BUTLER: The Norse dropped two games to Butler earlier this season at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex. After the games that were to be played at Eastern Michigan were moved to NKU due to inclement weather in Ypsilanti, Mich., the Bulldogs defeated the Norse, 6-2, on March 15 to begin the weekend. Butler then used an 8-3 victory on March 17 to take a 4-2 lead in the all-time series with NKU.
Michael Fries finished 4-for-6 with two runs, a double and four RBIs to lead Butler in the two games over the Norse. He also drew three walks, while Calderon went 5-for-9. Calderon scored three runs and recorded a triple in the final game of the weekend.
Josh Myers and
Logan Spurlin each collected three hits for NKU in the previous two meetings.
Zac Asman scored twice, while
Caleb Lonkard drew three walks.
COMPLETE GAME EFFORTS: Matt Jefferson and
Blake Bagshaw threw back-to-back complete games against Jacksonville and helped NKU capture its first conference series win of the season. Jefferson (1-6) allowed three runs on 10 hits, and he recorded five strikeouts and only walked one batter in a 4-3 victory on Saturday. Jefferson has now thrown three complete games in his career as a Norse.
Bagshaw (1-7) followed that up with a nine-inning performance on Sunday. He only surrendered two runs on five hits, recorded three strikeouts and did not walk a batter. It was also his third complete game at NKU and the first since the 2011 season.
The last time NKU pitchers put together consecutive complete games was May 19-20, 2011 during the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Tournament. Dave Middendorf led the Norse to a 1-0 victory over Quincy in the opening game after only surrendering two hits and striking out 15 batters. Andy Heston accomplished the feat the next day, as NKU defeated Missouri S&T, 3-2. Heston only allowed one earned run on six hits and collected six strikeouts.
ASMAN'S STOLEN BASE SUCCESS: Zac Asman led the Norse offense in Sunday's 5-2 victory over Jacksonville after going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and three stolen bases. In the first inning, he successfully took both second and third base. Asman again swiped second the following frame.
The last time an NKU player stole three bases was April 22, 2012 when
Max Colaner accomplished the feat against in the opening game of a doubleheader against former Great Lakes Valley Conference foe Saint Joseph's (Ind.). Similar to Asman, he stole second and third in the first inning of that game.
SCHEDULE CHANGE: Due to the cancelation of the Saint Joseph's (Ind.) home game on Tuesday, the May 1 contest at Ohio State has been changed to a doubleheader. As a result of the change, first pitch is now scheduled for 3:05 p.m. instead of 12:05 p.m.
