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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Clinton Freeman's three-run double in the top of the 10th inning lifted the East Tennessee State University baseball team to a 12-9 victory over Northern Kentucky University on Saturday afternoon.
Freeman finished with six runs batted in as East Tennessee State (17-11 overall, 6-5 in the Atlantic Sun Conference) rallied from a 9-1 deficit after six innings to post the come-from-behind win at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex. NKU (4-26 overall, 1-7 in the A-Sun) collected a season-high 18 hits but left 12 runners on base, including five over the final five innings.
The Norse jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
Logan Spurlin was hit by a Griffin Krieg to begin the frame, and
Cody Kuzniczci followed with a single. Spurlin scored on a groundout by
Caleb Lonkard, and a
Hunter Morey single up the middle brought Kuzniczci home for a 2-0 advantage.
The Norse added three runs to its total the following frame with two outs on the scoreboard.
Josh Myers singled down the right-field line, and Spurlin and Kuzniczci both walked to load the bases. A single by
Bradley Vanderglas drove in Myers, and Spurlin came home when Lonkard drew a bases-loaded walk.
After a pitching change, Kuzniczci scored on a wild pitch, giving NKU a 5-0 advantage.
The Norse scored twice more in the bottom of the fifth inning to push their lead to 7-0, before the Buccaneers scored in the top of the sixth. NKU, however, answered with two runs for a 9-1 advantage after six innings.
ETSU began its rally in the eighth inning, scoring five runs on four hits and three Norse errors to cut the difference to 9-5. Dylan Tritsch finished 4-for-6 with two runs scored for the ETSU offense, which saw six Bucs collect two or more hits.
Will Chesney (2-1) earned the win for ETSU after pitching two innings of relief. He scattered two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out two.
Seven Norse recorded hits, with Clement and Myers leading the way with four. Kuzniczci went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, while Vanderglas finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
NKU concludes its series with ETSU on Sunday at noon looking for its first home victory of the season. Live stats, ASun.TV and audio links will be available at NKUNorse.com.
