Box score (XML) |
Box score (PDF)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –
Caleb Kellogg went 3-for-4 with four RBIs to lead the Northern Kentucky University baseball team to an 8-6 victory over North Florida on Saturday afternoon in Atlantic Sun Conference play at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex.
The freshman outfielder from Goshen, Ky., recorded hits in his first three at bats and collected his first career home run for the Norse, who improved to 5-15 overall and 1-1 in the Atlantic Sun. Kellogg stretched his hitting streak to six games with his performance from the plate.
NKU wasted no time bringing runs across home plate.
Cole Bauml led off the bottom of the first inning with a single to left field, and
Kyle Colletta followed with a deep double over left fielder Ty Kelly's head to send Bauml to third.
Cody Kuzniczci then sent a 1-2 pitch into left field to bring Bauml home.
After a Norse strikeout,
Zac Asman recorded NKU's first triple of the year, and Colletta and Kuzniczci each scored for a 3-0 lead. A single through the right side from Kellogg allowed Asman to come home for the final run of the inning and a 4-0 Norse advantage.
After a scoreless second inning, Drew Weeks put North Florida on the scoreboard for the first time with a two-out triple to right-center field that scored Corbin Olmstead, who reached base on a fielder's choice, to bring the Ospreys to within 4-1.
NKU answered in the bottom of the frame with two outs. Asman singled and proceeded to steal second before a
Josh Myers infield single sent him to third. Kellogg's second hit of the game brought Asman home for a 5-1 Norse lead.
North Florida used six straight hits, highlighted by an Olmstead two-run home run and a Weeks RBI single, to cut its deficit to 5-4. Patrick Ervin brought the game even when he grounded out to
Wendell Wright to drive in Weeks.
Kellogg's homer in the top of the fifth inning was a 1-0 shot over the right-field wall to also plate Myers, who doubled down the right-field line to reach base, giving NKU a 7-5 advantage.
In the top of the sixth, North Florida loaded the bases with no outs, but Weeks popped up for the first out and Trent Higginbothem popped into a double play to Asman to end the inning with no damage for the Norse.
Jordan Procyshen stretched the NKU lead to 8-5 in the bottom of the sixth when he singled to right field to bring home Colletta, who singled and advanced to second on a passed ball to setup the scoring play.
Defense was strong over the next two scoreless innings for both teams, before North Florida put together one last threat the top of the ninth inning. Weeks began the frame with a single through the left side, went to second on a wild pitch and third on a Higginbothem ground out, before scoring on an Alex Bacon single.
Ervin singled to center field, sending Bacon to third, and
Jake Shaw walked pinch hitter Nick Karmeris to load the bases. Alex Merritt, however, grounded into a double play to end the game.
Colletta and Asman each finished 2-for-4 with two runs for the Norse, while Myers went 2-for-4 as well. Bauml rounded out the two-hit performers for NKU, which collected 15 hits and left eight runners on base. Procyshen's hit in the sixth extended his hitting streak to eight games.
Wright improved to 1-1 on the mound in his third start for the Norse, allowing five runs on 13 hits over eight innings of work. He recorded two strikeouts and walked just two. Shaw earned his third save of the season, surrendering one run on three hits in the ninth.
Olmstead and Weeks each went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the way for the Ospreys, who finished with 16 hits and left 11 base runners stranded on the day. Bacon also recorded a 3-for-5 performance, while James Abbatinozzi finished 3-for-4 with one run.
Tyler DuPont (1-1) took the loss for the Ospreys after allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits in 1.1 innings of relief work. Incinelli gave up five runs on 10 hits over 3.2 innings in the start for North Florida, which fell to 11-11 overall and 3-2 in the Atlantic Sun.
The series finale between the two teams will take place Sunday at noon. NKU looks to win its second series of the season and second conference series since becoming an Atlantic Sun member last season. Links to live stats and John Asalon's audio broadcast will be available at nkunorse.com.
