HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –
Caleb Lonkard was perfect from the plate, drove in two runs and scored twice as the Northern Kentucky University baseball team suffered a 12-7 setback against Kennesaw State University in Atlantic Sun Conference action at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex, on Sunday.
Lonkard was one of three NKU players to record three hits on the day, going 3-for-3 with one walk, while
Cole Bauml finished 3-for-5 with his nation-leading 24th double of the season, two runs scored and one RBI.
Trey Ganns went 3-for-4 with a double and drove in two runs for the Norse. NKU recorded 13 hits and left nine base runners stranded.
Nick Beard (0-2) took the loss on the mound for NKU, surrendering two runs on two hits without retiring a batter. Starter
Matt Jefferson gave up six runs on 10 hits in seven innings of work for the Norse, while
Aric Harris pitched 1.1 perfect innings of relief for the Norse.
NKU, which fell to 10-21 overall and 0-6 in the Atlantic Sun, opened the game's scoring in the bottom of the third inning. Lonkard recorded a lead-off double to right-center field, and
Quint Heady sent him to third with a fly out. Bauml followed with a double to bring Lonkard home.
David Head then reached base as third baseman Jeremy Howell's throw to first sailed by Colin Bennett, and a single down the left-field line by
Cody Kuzniczci loaded the bases. Ganns drew a walk, which allowed Bauml to score for a 2-0 Norse advantage.
Kennesaw State responded with three runs in the top of the fourth to push ahead. A Howell single through the left side scored Chris McGowan, who led off the frame with a single of his own. Drew Davis sent a two-out, two-run home run over the left-field wall to give the Owls a 3-2 lead.
The Owls extended their advantage to 6-2 in the fifth, plating three runs on three hits, before the Norse offense put additional runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Ganns hit a lead-off single up the middle, and
Brad Bohlen followed with a single to short left field.
Kyle Colletta was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. After the first out of the Norse half inning, Lonkard singled down the left-field line, bringing Ganns and Bohlen home to cut the NKU deficit to two (6-4).
NKU struck again in the seventh to tie the game. Bauml led off with a single up the middle, and Head followed suit with a shot up the middle. Kuzniczci was walked, loading the bases, before Ganns sent a 2-2 pitch into deep center field for a two-run double, scoring Bauml and Head to make it a 6-6 ballgame. After a Kennesaw State pitching change and the first out,
Kyle Colletta reloaded the bases by drawing a walk, but the inning ended before the Norse could take the lead once more.
The Owls used a six-run eighth inning, capped by a two-run single to left-center field in Taylor Allum's second at-bat of the frame to regain the advantage and take a 12-6 lead over NKU.
Lonkard drew a walk to start the Norse half of the frame, and he went to second on a walk pitch. Head reached base and Lonkard scored on a throwing error by shortstop Kal Simmons for the final margin of the game.
Davis led the way for Kennesaw State, which improved to 19-16 overall and 5-4 in the Atlantic Sun, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored, while Brennan Morgan went 2-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored. McGowan, Erwin and Howell each recorded two-hit days for the Owls, who collected 14 hits and left seven runners stranded.
Logan Hutchinson (1-0) earned the victory, pitching two innings of relief and allowing just one unearned run with two walks and two strikeouts. Starter Gabe Friese gave up four runs on one nine hits over six innings of work, and he recorded six strikeouts and two walks.
NKU concludes its five-game homestand on Wednesday as the Norse welcome Maryville (Tenn.) College at 3 p.m. Links to live stats and John Asalon's audio broadcast are available at NKUNorse.com. Fans can track the game's progress by following @NKUNorseGameDay on Twitter as well.
