ATHENS, Ohio – Charlie Jerger tossed three scoreless innings of relief while
Conor Ledger came up with a pair of big hits as the Northern Kentucky University baseball team defeated Ohio, 7-6, in 10 innings at Bob Wren Stadium on Wednesday.
Mike Moffatt drew a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth with the Norse (6-10) trailing Ohio, 6-5.
Anthony Vagnier pinch ran and scored the game-tying run on a Ledger RBI single.
Jerger then took to the mound and held Ohio (7-9) to one hit across the final three innings to help set up the NKU offense for a comeback victory.
Ledger drove in the game-winning run in the top of the 10th when he sent a single to center field, pushing
Tito Montgomery across the plate.
Ledger was the only Norse with a multi-hit showing. The junior also scored two runs and posted a pair of RBI while
Ty Amann added two RBI.
NKU got off to a scoring start with three runs in the top of the first on a
Will Haueter RBI single and two-run single from Amann.
The Norse followed with two more runs in the second inning after runs crossed on a hit by pitch and a wild pitch to extend the NKU advantage to 5-0.
In his first start on the mound this season,
Kyle Colletta retired six of his first seven batters faced. Ohio jumped on the board in the bottom of the second with a solo homer to make it 5-1.
After posting another run in the bottom of the third, the Bobcats took a 6-5 lead with a four-run, five-hit sixth inning. The Ohio lead would last until Ledger tied the game in the eighth frame, forcing the contest into extra innings.
The Norse return to action on Friday, March 18 for their home opener and Horizon League opener against Valparaiso. The teams will play a three-game set at Bill Aker Baseball Complex. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m.
NORSE NOTES:- Jerger has allowed one run across his last six outings and leads the bullpen with a 1.86 ERA, 2-0 record, and one save in 9.2 innings pitched.
- After appearing in eight games so far this season, Ledger has had a multi-hit showing in four of them en route to posting nine total hits on the year.
- NKU is continuing to put together its strongest start to a Division I season, reaching six wins the quickest in the team's Division I era.