HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team fell to Valparaiso, 16-1, on Sunday afternoon after the Crusaders took an early lead and carried their offensive momentum through the sixth inning at Bill Aker Baseball Complex.
Valparaiso (7-11, 3-0 Horizon League) came out swinging to put together a four-run top of the first as they scored at least one run in five of the first six frames. Valpo's Nolan Lodden fueled the offense with a 5-for-6 showing with five RBI.
The Norse (6-13, 0-3 Horizon League) struggled to string hits together against Valparaiso starter Mario Losi who tossed 6.0 innings, allowing six hits and one run.
Logan Spurlin broke through Losi for a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to put the Norse on the board. The solo shot brought the score to 10-1 through four frames.
Valpo's final runs were scored in the top of the sixth with the help of a pair of two-run singles from James Stea and Lodden.
The Norse silenced the Crusader bats throughout the remainder of the contest, holding Valpo to one hit across the final three frames with the help of a hitless inning of relief from
Clark Pence.
Trey Ganns and
Conor Ledger each went 2-for-4 on Sunday to lead the Norse offense.
NKU returns to action on Tuesday, March 22 for a midweek matchup against Northwestern. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Bill Aker Baseball Complex.
NORSE NOTES:- With his solo shot in the fourth, Spurlin tied Mike Moffatt with a team-best three homers on the year. Spurlin also recorded his team-leading 14th RBI.
- Dominic Mercurio led NKU in the three-game series, going 6-for-13 against the Crusaders. He has now totaled 11 hits across the last six games and is batting .440 in that span.
- Kyle Colletta has safely reached base in 14-straight games.
