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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –
Brad Clement finished 3-for-4 with two runs batted in to lead the Northern Kentucky University baseball team to an 8-2 victory over in-state rival Morehead State University on Tuesday afternoon at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex.
Clement now has 117 career RBIs and needs seven more to tie Dan Logan and Gary Flowerdew for ninth all-time in that category.
NKU (5-27) jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after two innings and did not let up for its first victory at home this season.
Cody Kuzniczci was hit by a Tyler Keele 0-1 pitch to start the inning. An error by Alan Mocahbee allowed
Logan Spurlin to reach base, sending Kuzniczci to second. Walks to
Bradley Vanderglas and
Caleb Lonkard brought home the first run of the game and gave NKU a 1-0 lead.
Morey drew the third consecutive walk to bring Spurlin home, and
Conor Ledger singled to right field, scoring Vanderglas. With one out,
Brad Clement reached on a fielder's choice with Ledger out on the play, but Lonkard was able to score, giving NKU a 4-0 advantage.
A double to left by
Josh Myers extended the Norse lead by scoring Morey and Clement.
Morehead State (9-23) threatened in the top of the fourth but could only muster one run on a double by Alan Mocahbee before leaving the bases loaded. NKU, however, answered in the bottom of the frame to stretch the lead back to six (7-1).
Brandon Rawe sent a 2-0
Brett Cisper pitch over the left-field wall to cut the Norse advantage to 7-2 in the sixth, but Myers came home on a Kuzniczci single in the seventh for the final margin of the game.
The Eagles finished with a 9-8 advantage in hits, but MSU stranded eight runners while NKU left five.
Myers collected two RBIs and successfully stole two bases on the day for the Norse.
Cisper (1-4) earned his first victory on the mound for NKU after six innings of work. He allowed two runs on seven hits while collecting two strikeouts.
Cody Cooper pitched three scoreless innings and struck out three for the first save of his career.
Kane Sweeney, Chase Greenwell and Rawe went 2-for-4 to lead MSU.
Keele (2-4) struggled on the mound over 3 2/3 innings of work for the Eagles. He surrendered four earned runs on seven hits while walking four and hitting three Norse batters. Dan Hyatt pitched 3 1/3 innings and only allowed one run on three hits while striking out four.
NKU hosts former Great Lakes Valley Conference foe Indianapolis on Wednesday at 3 p.m. for the annual “Strike Out Cancer” game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink, and the 2013 Strike Out Cancer t-shirts will be available for $10. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Live stats and audio broadcast information will be available at NKUNorse.com.
