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Box score (PDF)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team used a four-hit shutout to avoid the Atlantic Sun Conference series sweep as the Norse defeated Lipscomb University, 2-0, at Dugan Field on Sunday afternoon.
Cody Cooper (3-7) allowed just one hit and struck out four batters for NKU, which improved to 13-28 overall and 6-12 in the Atlantic Sun, pitching four innings of relief after a lightning delay that lasted just over an hour.
Jake Shaw earned his fourth save of the season, scattering three hits and striking out two in three innings for the Norse.
Logan Spurlin led the NKU offense, going 2-for-5 from the plate.
Cody Kuzniczci finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while
Jordan Procyshen also batted 1-for-3 and scored a run for the Norse, who left 10 base runners stranded on the day.
For the first time in the three-game series, the NKU offense struck first. Three consecutive errors by Lispcomb allowed Kuzniczci,
Quint Heady and
David Head to reach base and load the bases in the top of the second inning.
Ryan LeFevers' sacrifice fly to left field allowed Kuzniczci to score for a 1-0 Norse lead.
NKU extended its lead in the next frame when Procyshen sent a two-out double down the right-field line and scored on a Kuzniczci single through the left side. Heady singled and Head was walked to load the bases, but LeFevers flied out to center field before NKU could bring home extra runs.
After recording its first hit of the game in the sixth inning, Lipscomb threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Adam Lee hit a lead-off single down the left-field line, and he advanced to second when Jonathan Allison drew a two-out walk, putting the tying runs on base. Grant Massey, however, lined out to second baseman
Zac Asman to end the frame and leave the runners stranded for the Bisons.
Drew Adams, Josh Lee, Adam Lee and pinch hitter Griffin Moore collected the four hits for Lipscomb, which fell to 26-19 overall and 14-7 in the Atlantic Sun. Allison drew two walks for the Bisons, who stranded nine runners on base.
Denton Norman fell to 5-4 on the mound for Lipscomb, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits. He struck out three and walked three. Jacob Knott, Nick Andros and Jason Ziegler did not surrender any runs and combined for just one hit over the final four innings for the Bisons, who now own a 5-1 advantage in the all-time series with the Norse.
NKU travels across the Ohio River on Tuesday to face Cincinnati for the first of two nonconference midweek games. First pitch against the Bearcats is set for 6:30 p.m. The Norse will then head to Morehead State on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. contest. A video broadcast will be available for Tuesday's action, and live stats and John Asalon's audio broadcast will be available for both games at nkunorse.com.
