HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team dropped the series opener against UIC, 4-1, at Bill Aker Baseball Complex on Friday afternoon.

Starter Justin Watts twirled 6.0 innings for NKU, allowing just two runs and five hits while fanning six and walking one.

Trey Ganns led the Norse offense, going 2-for-4 with an RBI while Quint Heady matched his 2-for-4 showing at the plate.

The Norse (11-19, 1-9 Horizon League) struggled to string hits together against UIC starter Connor Ryan who tossed 6.1 innings and allowed five hits and one run.

UIC (12-16, 4-2 Horizon League) plated its four runs across four separate innings beginning with a run scored on an RBI single in the top of the third.

A sacrifice fly from the Flames in the top of the fifth handed UIC a 2-0 lead.

The Norse plated their only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth after clubbing three hits including an RBI single from Ganns. Kyle Colletta scored his team-leading 19th run of the season to cut the UIC lead to 2-1.

However, the Flames scored a pair of insurance runs in the seven and eighth innings on a pair of extra-base RBI knocks.

Watts absorbed the loss despite his quality start as the Norse could not score a late run against UIC reliever Trevor Lane who tossed 2.2 scoreless innings with one hit.

The Norse and Flames continue the three-game series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex with the action carried live on ESPN3.

NORSE NOTES:

·         Watts has thrown 26.0 innings in four starts against Horizon League opponents, allowing just nine earned runs and striking out 24 for a 3.12 ERA.

·         Ganns posted his team-best 10th multi-hit game of the season on Friday. He has gone 7-for-16 across the last four games to boost his season batting average to .291.

·         Norse pitchers have held opponents to four runs or less in six of their last seven games