HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Valparaiso came from behind in a victory over the Northern Kentucky University baseball team on Saturday afternoon, posting five runs across the final three innings as the Norse fell, 6-4, at Bill Aker Baseball Complex.
Both teams got off to a scoring start. Valparaiso (6-11, 2-0 Horizon League) posted a run in the opening frame on an RBI single from Daniel Delaney.
The Norse (6-12, 0-2 Horizon League) took a 3-1 lead in the home half of the opening frame on a pair of groundout RBI from
Logan Spurlin and
Trey Ganns. A Valpo error plated
Will Haueter to give the Norse their two-run edge that stuck for the next five innings.
NKU starter
Justin Watts held Valpo scoreless between the first and seventh innings. Watts tossed a season-high 6.0 innings in his fifth start this season, allowing six hits and two runs while fanning five.
Valparaiso starter Trevor Haas threw 7.1 frames and allowed four runs, three earned to pick up the win.
In the top of the seventh, the Valpo bats came alive as they tacked on a run on a sacrifice fly, followed by a three-run eighth to take a 5-3 lead.
The Norse made it a one-run game in the bottom of the eighth on a
Dominic Mercurio RBI single, but a Crusader insurance run in the top of the ninth would seal the Valpo victory.
Mercurio and Spurlin led NKU with two hits and one RBI apiece as Valpo out-hit the Norse 12-9.
The three-game series concludes on Sunday at noon at Bill Aker Baseball Complex.
NORSE NOTES:- Mercurio has posted back-to-back multi-hit showings and has batted 5-for-9 in two games against the Crusaders. The sophomore has recorded 10 hits in the last five games.
- Haueter extended his season-long hitting streak to 16 games as he posted his team-leading 25th hit of the season on Saturday.
- With five strikeouts against Valpo, Watts boosted his team-leading strikeout total to 21 in 22.1 innings pitched.
