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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Chesny Young finished 4-for-5 with two runs scored to lead the No. 28 Mercer University baseball team to a 7-4 victory over Northern Kentucky University in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Thursday at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex.
Mercer (40-14 overall, 18-7 in the A-Sun) took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Austin Barrett's two-run double allowed Young and Nick Backlund to score. The Bears added two runs in the second to stretch their lead, and a solo home run by Barrett pushed the score to 5-0.
Michael Massi extended the Mercer advantage to 7-0 in the fifth frame with a single down the left-field line, scoring Young and Backlund.
NKU (8-45 overall, 3-22 in the A-Sun) cut into the Bears' lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out,
Anthony Vagnier was hit by an Eric Nyquist pitch and advanced to second on a
Pat Hyde single.
Luke Greene then sent a 3-2 pitch over the outstretched glove of leftfielder Logan Gaines to bring Vagnier home and cut the Mercer lead to 7-1.
The Norse offense struck again the following inning, sparked by
Brad Clement's lead-off single to centerfield. Stephen Glaze then fell behind to
Logan Spurlin, and Spurlin sent the third pitch over the left-field wall to bring NKU to within four (7-3).
Quint Heady drew a walk, and David Teasley took over on the mound for Mercer. Heady stole second, and
Brandon Wood followed with a single down the left-field line, and Heady scored to bring the score to 7-4.
Dimitri Kourtis retired NKU in order in the bottom of the ninth for his ninth save of the season.
Barrett finished 2-for-4 with a run and three RBIs for the Bears. Massi collected two RBIs on the day, while Sasha LeGarde also batted in a run.
Brandon Barker (7-1) recorded seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings of work for the win. He scattered three hits and did not walk a batter.
Spurlin went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one run to lead the Norse offense. Greene finished 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI, while
Caleb Lonkard went 2-for-5.
Matt Jefferson (1-8) surrendered seven runs on nine hits over six innings on the mound. He recorded six strikeouts and walked three.
Mike Derby pitched two scoreless innings and only gave up two hits, while
Brett Loeding did not allow a hit in one inning as he closed out the game for NKU.
The two teams return to action on Friday for the second game of the final regular-season series for both teams. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Video will be available via ASun.TV, and live stats and John Asalon's audio broadcast links will be available at NKUNorse.com.
