VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Norse took on Valparaiso in a doubleheader to open a three-game series on Saturday and fell in a pair of one-run games at Emory G. Bauer Field. The Norse plated three runs in the top of the ninth but came up short in an 8-7 loss in the opener. NKU then scored in clusters in the nightcap and nearly erased a 9-1 deficit with a five-run sixth and three-run eighth, but again fell short in a 10-9 loss to the Crusaders.

NKU clubbed five total homers on the day, two of which came off the bat of TJ Alas in game two.

The Norse dip to 10-19 overall and 5-3 in the Horizon League while Valparaiso improves to 12-16 and 3-5 in League play.

GAME ONE | Valparaiso 8, Northern Kentucky 7

Northern Kentucky scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to come within one run of tying it with a pair of runners on base, but was not able to push another run across. Valparaiso sped out to a 5-0 lead through the first inning as the Norse trailed the whole way.

At the Plate

• NKU tied its season-high in hits with 15 for the fourth time this season.
• Richmond went 3-for-6 with a double, a home run, a run scored and two RBI.
• Will Haueter, Trey Ganns, Dominic Mercurio and Kyle Colletta also had multi-hit showings with Mercurio posting a game-high three RBI. Mercurio belted a solo homer and a two-run single in the ninth inning.
• Haueter scored twice for the Norse while Ganns and Mike Moffatt added one RBI apiece.

On the Mound

• Valparaiso came out swinging, managing five total runs, four earned runs, and five hits against Norse starter Jean-Francois Dionne in the first inning. Dionne threw 3.2 innings, allowing two runs across his final 2.2 innings of work, only one of which was earned.
• Relievers Brody Basilone and Travis Rowland combined to allow just two hits and one run, unearned, in the final 4.1 innings.
• Basilone totaled 2.1 scoreless innings pitched with one hit, one walk and three strikeouts.
• Rowland tossed 2.0 innings with one unearned run and one hit with four strikeouts.

Key Moments

• Valparaiso scored five runs on five hits and a Norse error for their 5-0 lead in the opening frame.
• The Crusaders added a run in the third off of an NKU error before Mercurio and Richmond led off the fourth and fifth frames with solo home runs to put the Norse on the board.
• Valpo added a run in the bottom of the fourth as it led, 7-2, through five innings.
• NKU scored single runs in the seventh and eighth on RBI singles from Ganns and Richmond to trail by four heading to the final frame.
• In the ninth, Haueter and Ganns drew walks to lead it off. Marion pinch ran for Ganns as both he and Haueter were pushed across the plate on a no-out, two-run single from Mercurio. A Moffatt RBI single scored Conor Ledger to put the Norse within one run of Valpo with one out, but closer Jon Tieman picked up the final two outs to earn his seventh save of the year.

GAME TWO | Valparaiso 10, Northern Kentucky 9

Northern Kentucky scored eight runs across the final four innings while the bullpen held Valpo to just one run in that span, but NKU again could not find the game-tying run in a 10-9 loss.

At the Plate

• NKU totaled 11 hits in the affair with Alas belting a pair of home runs for two runs scored and two RBI.
• Chad Roberts subbed in at first base in the sixth inning and went 2-for-2 with a home run and a game-high four RBI.
• Colletta had two RBI as Haueter and Mercurio posted their second multi-hit games of the day.

On the Mound

• Reliever Jordan Menfee had the strongest outing on the mound for the Norse in game two. The sophomore closed the game and allowed just one hit and one run, unearned, in the final 3.0 frames. He struck out four and walked two.
• Ganns started on the bump for the Norse and absorbed the loss after throwing the first 2.2 innings.
• Charlie Jerger contributed 0.2 innings and was relieved by Cameron Ross. Ross tossed 1.2 innings with three hits and two runs.

Key Moments

• Valparaiso again claimed an early lead, holding a 5-1 advantage on nine hits through three innings in game two.
• Alas' first homer of the game in the top of the third put the Norse on the board.
• Valparaiso then added four runs on four hits including a two-run double in the fourth for its 9-1 edge.
• The Northern Kentucky offense took over from there with a five-run sixth that featured a pair of two-run doubles from Colletta and Roberts as well as a sacrifice fly from Ledger.
• Valpo added a run in the sixth before NKU knocked two homers in the top of the eighth. Alas clubbed his second of the day following a two-run bomb from Chad Roberts to bring the Norse within one run of the Crusaders.

Norse Notes

• Northern Kentucky is averaging 2.38 home runs per Horizon League contest after hitting 19 homers across their first eight HL games. In total this season, NKU has a League-leading 29 home runs in 29 games. Alas has six on the year followed by Richmond and Ganns who have five apiece. Ten different Norse have a home run this season.
• Rowland has tossed 4.0 total innings without an earned run this week. He threw 2.0 innings against both EKU on Tuesday and Valparaiso in game one on Saturday. Rowland has allowed just one hit and has fanned six in his last two outings.
• Roberts posted his team-leading sixth multi-RBI performance of the season in game two. The infielder has had two three-RBI games as Saturday marked his first four-RBI game as a Norse.
• Mercurio went 4-for-8 (.500) with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in the doubleheader. He improved his team-leading batting average to .333. He is one of six Norse batting over .300 this season.

Up Next

• The Norse and Crusaders wrap up the three-game set on Sunday with a 2 p.m. ET first pitch at Emory G. Bauer Field.