Box score (XML) |
Box score (PDF)HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –
Cole Bauml went 4-for-5 from the plate, scored three times and equaled his career-high in RBIs with six to lead the Northern Kentucky University baseball team to a 17-8 victory over Xavier University at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex on Tuesday in non-conference action.
Bauml, who also collected six RBIs against Stetson earlier this season, finished a triple shy of the cycle and drew one walk for NKU, which improved to 12-25 overall with the win. He led six Norse players with multi-hit games, including
Jordan Procyshen, who recorded his second two-home run game of the season.
After a two-run double by Patrick Jones in the top of the first inning gave Xavier an early 2-0 advantage, NKU responded with 10 runs over the game's first three frames to take a 10-2 lead. Bauml tied the game at 2-all in his first at-bat, sending a 2-0 pitch over the right-center field wall to also score
Zac Asman, who reached base on a lead-off triple.
The Norse offense then broke the game open in the second inning.
Dominic Faron started off the inning with a single up the middle, followed by a single through the left side by
David Head. Both runners advanced an extra base on the play when left fielder Vinny Nittoli misplayed the ball.
Asman then drew a one-out walk on four straight pitches to load the bases, and Trent Astle walked Bauml, allowing Faron to score for a 3-2 NKU lead. After a pitching change,
Logan Spurlin singled to bring Head and Asman home, which brought Procyshen to the plate. Procyshen then sent a three-run blast over the right-field wall, giving the Norse an 8-2 lead.
Back-to-back doubles by Bauml and Spurlin in the third inning set NKU up for its eight-run advantage.
NKU extended its lead to 12-3 before the Musketeers plated three runs in the fifth. Brian Bruening drew a lead-off walk and advanced to third on a Derek Hasenbeck double.
A ground out by Joe Forney brought Bruening home, followed by a Daniel Rizzie RBI double. Andre Jernigan cut the Xavier deficit to 12-6 when he singled to center field, allowing Rizzie to score.
The Norse offense was not done, however, as NKU added one run in each of the sixth and seventh innings on RBI singles by Bauml and Faron. The Musketeers scored two runs in the top of the eighth, but the Norse answered with three of their own, including Procyshen's team-leading 10th home run of the season, for the final margin of the game.
Garrett Schrantz (2-0) earned the victory on the mound for NKU. He allowed four runs on four hits, while striking out one and walking two.
Cody Cooper pitched four innings of relief for his first save of the season, surrendering just two runs on five hits with two strikeouts.
Faron finished 4-for-5 and scored three times for the Norse, who collected an NCAA Division I program-high 21 hits on the day. The 17 runs are also the most for NKU since reclassifying. Asman, Spurlin and Procyshen each recorded three-hit games as Spurlin stretched his on-base streak to 37 contests, dating back to last season, and Head went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Astle (2-4) went 1.1 innings for Xavier, which dropped to 21-18 on the year, and he gave up six runs on five hits as he walked two batters.
Jones finished 3-for-4 from the plate to lead the Musketeers, who now hold a 25-17 advantage in the all-time series with the Norse, and he scored twice and batted in two runs. Jernigan went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored.
The two teams will meet again on Wednesday afternoon, this time at Hayden Field in Cincinnati, Ohio. First pitch is schedule for 3 p.m. Links to live stats and John Asalon's audio broadcast will be available at nkunorse.com.
