Box score
DeLAND, Fla. – Left-handed pitcher Austin Perez limited the Northern Kentucky University baseball team to just one run on two hits as Stetson University cruised to an 8-2 victory over the Norse on Saturday evening at Melching Field in Atlantic Sun Conference play.
Stetson (25-26 overall, 14-9 in the A-Sun) scored two runs on two hits and an NKU error to jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. K'shawn Smith, who scored the game-winning run in last night's contest, stretched the Hatters' lead in the second when he scored on a ground out play by Darby McCormick.
The lead grew as Stetson added two runs in the third and one run in the fifth inning to take a 6-0 advantage before NKU (8-42 overall, 3-20 in the A-Sun) would get on the scoreboard.
Josh Myers sent the first pitch of the sixth frame over the left-field wall, and
Caleb Lonkard followed with a single up the middle.
Bradley Vanderglas drew a two-out walk later in the inning, but that was all the offense the Norse could generate against Perez.
After the Hatters added their last two runs in the seventh inning, NKU scored the final run of the game in the top of the ninth. Vanderglas and
Brad Clement drew back-to-back walks off Josh Thorne to start the inning, and
Logan Spurlin's one-out single through the left side allowed Vanderglas to score.
Perez (7-1) went seven innings for Stetson. He retired the first 15 batters he faced and finished with eight strikeouts.
Smith went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and one run scored to lead the Hatters' attack. Five Stetson players collected two hits on the night, including Patrick Mazeika and Kyle Zech, who each finished 2-for-3.
Spurlin, Myers and Lonkard recorded the three NKU hits on the day. Lonkard went 1-for-2 with a walk, while Vanderglas drew two walks.
Drew Campbell pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Norse, and he only surrendered two hits and struck out two.
The two teams conclude the series on Sunday. First pitch was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. but was changed to noon due to a threat of inclement weather and Norse travel plans. Live stats, ASun.TV and audio broadcast links will be available at NKUNorse.com.
