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Box score (PDF)CINCINNATI – Brian Bruening went 4-for-5 from the plate and scored twice to lead the Xavier University baseball team to a 6-3 victory over Northern Kentucky University at Hayden Field on Wednesday afternoon in nonconference play.
Bruening also added a stolen base for Xavier, which improved to 22-18 on the year. Daniel Rizzie, Joe Forney and Andre Jernigan each finished 2-for-4 from the plate for the Musketeers, who avenged a 17-8 loss to NKU on Tuesday. Rizzie collected two doubles, two runs and one RBI, while Forney batted in two runs. Jernigan finished with one run scored, one RBI and one stolen base.
Xavier starter Eric Stiene (3-1) only allowed one run on seven hits over five innings of work for the win. He struck out two batters and walked two.
NKU threatened in the first inning but left two runners on base before Xavier took the lead in the bottom of the frame. Derek Hasenbeck, who reached base on a single, scored on an RBI single to center field by Joe Forney for the early 1-0 Musketeer advantage.
After a scoreless second, the Musketeers struck for two more runs in the third. An RBI single by Jernigan scored Bruening, and an
Evan Korson wild pitch then allowed Rizzie to come home for a 3-0 lead. Xavier stretched its advantage to 5-0 the next inning on RBI hits by Rizzie and Forney.
The Norse got onto the scoreboard in the fifth inning.
Cole Bauml drew a two-out walk, and he advanced to second on a
Logan Spurlin single to left field.
Jordan Procyshen then sent a shot through the right side, and Bauml scored to cut the NKU deficit to 5-1.
Xavier struck one more time in the bottom of the seventh, when Jernigan led off the inning with a single to left field and proceeded to steal second base. He advanced to third on a ground out by Stephen Schoettmer. David Morton's RBI double down the left-field line allowed Jernigan to score, giving the Musketeers a 6-1 advantage.
NKU made one last attempt in the top of the ninth. With two outs, the Norse drew three consecutive walks to load the bases, bringing
Cody Kuzniczci to the plate. He then sent a shot up the middle, and
Ryan Hinz, who pinch ran for Spurlin, and Bauml scored the final two runs of the game.
Spurlin went 3-for-4 from the plate and drew one walk to lead NKU, which fell to 12-26 overall. He has now safely reached base in each of the last 38 games he has appeared in, dating back to last season.
Josh Myers finished 2-for-4 for the Norse, who stranded 12 runners on base, while Kuzniczci also posted a two-hit game.
Korson (1-1), making his first collegiate start, allowed three runs off five hits in three innings of work for NKU. He finished with three strikeouts and walked just two batters.
NKU returns to Atlantic Sun Conference action this weekend as the Norse travel to Nashville, Tenn., for a three-game series against Lipscomb. Friday and Saturday are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Eastern, and the series finale on Sunday is slated for 2 p.m. Friday and Sunday's action will be shown on ASun.TV, and live stats and John Asalon's audio broadcast for each contest will be available at nkunorse.com.
