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March 15-16
Florence, Ky. – UC Health Stadium
NKU (3-11) vs. Eastern Michigan (6-8)
Series Record: EMU leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: EMU 15, NKU 9 (March 16, 2013)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team takes a quick trip to Florence, Ky., this weekend as the Norse welcome Eastern Michigan for a three-game series at the UC Health Stadium in non-conference action.
The two teams will take to the field for a doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch for the opening game scheduled for noon. Sunday's single-game series finale is also slated for a noon start. Links to live stats and John Asalon's audio broadcast will be available at nkunorse.com.
NKU is 3-11 entering the weekend series. The Norse's Wednesday road game against No. 20 Kentucky was canceled due to inclement weather, and they are looking to snap a three-game losing skid after dropping each game against Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles last weekend.
Cody Kuzniczci and
Jordan Procyshen each finished 3-for-5 for NKU in the series finale as the Lions defeated NKU, 13-10. The pair also combined for three home runs and four runs scored, and Procyshen batted in four runs for the Norse.
EMU is 6-8 overall after winning two of three games last weekend. The Eagles were scheduled to play a three-game series at Evansville last weekend before weather forced a change, and they traveled to Cincinnati instead. EMU dropped a 5-4 decision in 10 innings to Youngstown State on Saturday before picking up two wins on Sunday. The Eagles defeated Cincinnati, 5-4, in the opener and cruised to an 11-5 victory over Youngstown State to end the weekend.
Redshirt freshman Michael Mioduszewski is one of five EMU players batting over .300 this season. He boasts a .429 batting average over eight games and has collected six doubles, one home run and four RBIs, while sophomore Nick Rotola is hitting .385 with three doubles, a triple and eight runs scored. Senior Lee Longo has recorded a team-high 21 hits and holds a .382 batting average to go with 14 RBIs, and junior John Rubino has batted in a team-leading 17 runs and is hitting at a .345 clip to go along with sophomore Mitchell McGeein's .316 average.
On the mound, the Norse will face a trio of right-handers this weekend. Junior Jake Andrews, who is projected to start in the opener on Saturday, holds a 3.79 earned run average and has struck out a team-high 15 batters over 19.0 innings of work. Junior Ryan Lavoie is expected to go up against the Norse in the nightcap, and he has recorded a 4.30 ERA over 14.2 innings with nine strikeouts and just seven earned runs. Senior Steve Weber will close out the weekend for the Eagles, and he is 1-0 this season with a 5.69 ERA and has struck out seven batters in 6.1 innings on the mound.
LAST TIME AGAINST EMU: EMU hit four home runs en route to a 15-9 victory over NKU on March 16, 2013, at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex in the last meeting between the two teams. A day prior, the Eagles topped the Norse, 2-1, in 10 innings for a 2-0 lead in the all-time series.
EMU used a nine-run fifth inning to break the game open and took a 12-0 lead into the bottom half of the inning.
Cody Kuzniczci recorded his first collegiate home run in the bottom of the frame that also scored
Brad Clement to get NKU on the scoreboard and break up the shutout.
The Norse outscored the Eagles 7-3 over the final four innings, including a five-run eighth, but could not overcome the deficit. Clement sparked the NKU offense in the eighth inning with a double to right center, and
Hunter Morey drew a walk. After back-to-back strikeouts, Kuzniczci plated his third RBI of the game with a single to right field to bring Clement home and advance Morey to third.
Ryan Hinz walked to load the bases, and Ben Dartnel walked
Luke Greene on four straight pitches for another Norse run. Kuzniczci and Hinz scored on a single by
Logan Spurlin, which forced an EMU pitching change.
Anthony Vagnier collected his first hit and RBI as a Norse when he singled to bring Greene home and cut the EMU lead to 15-8.
Kuzniczci struck again in the ninth with a single to right center that allowed Morey to score, but NKU could not muster any more runs for a comeback.
Kuzniczci led the Norse offense, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs, while Vagnier finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
AGAINST THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE: NKU is 6-21 all-time against members of the Mid-American Conference, including EMU's 2-0 lead. The Norse hold winning records against Akron (1-0) and Ball State (3-0) and are tied with Ohio (1-1) but have not fared as well against the rest of the league. Bowling Green (1-0), Kent State (2-0), Miami (Ohio) (14-1) and Northern Illinois (1-0) each have winning marks against NKU.
Later this season, NKU will face two other members of the MAC. The Norse will travel to Oxford, Ohio, to face Miami on March 18 before welcoming Ball State to the Bill Aker Baseball Complex on April 2.
RETURNING TO FLORENCE: NKU holds a 51-17-1 overall record in games played at the UC Health Stadium, previously known as Champion Window Field. The Norse called the home of the Frontier League's Florence Freedom its home field from 2006-2008 and have played several games in Florence, Ky., since.
Most recently, NKU played the first two matchups of a four-game series against Marshall at the UC Health Stadium last season. The Norse dropped both games to the Thundering Herd by scores of 7-1 and 6-3 before the two teams completed the series back at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex.
SUNDAY PROMOTIONS: Fans will be able to pick up their 2014 spring sports pocket schedule at Sunday's series finale. Fans will also have the opportunity to participate in Sunday Funday Bingo, presented by Toppers Pizza, at every Sunday home game this season. Bingo cards will be available upon entrance into the stadium and are based on plays occurring during the game. The first two fans to complete their cards will receive a gift card to Toppers Pizza.
