HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky baseball team clinched a Horizon League Tournament bid on Saturday, defeating Youngstown State in both ends of a doubleheader by scores of 4-3 and 5-3 at YSU's Eastwood Field. The Norse pitching staff allowed just 14 hits and six runs with 15 strikeouts across 18.0 total innings.
Northern Kentucky has won four-straight and is now 21-30 on the season and 14-13 in the Horizon League. YSU dips to 15-34 (9-19).
GAME ONE | Northern Kentucky 4, Youngstown State 3
NKU split its four runs scored across two separate innings while starter
Brody Basilone and reliever
Cameron Ross held the Penguins to just two earned runs in the opener.
At the Plate
On the Mound
- Basilone threw a career-high tying 5.0 innings with just four hits and two runs allowed. The junior walked three and fanned a season-high six batters. He gave up two hits through his first 4.0 innings of work.
- Cameron Ross picked up the win to move to 5-2 this season. Ross tossed the final 4.0 innings with one run, unearned. Ross gave up five hits, walked one and struck out two.
Key Moments
- Both teams scored two runs apiece in the first inning.
- NKU scored its first two runs on RBI hits from Haueter and Roberts to lead 2-0. YSU tied it up with a two-run double from Andrew Kendrick.
- The game remained tied at 2-2 through the next five innings until the Norse plated a pair in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from Alas and sacrifice fly off the bat of Haueter.
- YSU managed one run in the bottom of the ninth, which scored on a groundout.
GAME TWO | Northern Kentucky 5, Youngstown State 3
Another pair of Norse pitchers shone in game two as YSU scored each of its three runs in a single inning and was held hitless by hurlers
Jordan Menfee and
Travis Rowland for the final seven innings of the game.
At the Plate
- NKU had eight hits in game two as Richmond again posted a pair of hits. TJ Alas went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks.
- Ganns had a team-high two RBI while Roberts scored two runs.
On the Mound
- In his first start since March 4, Jordan Menfee threw a season-high 5.2 innings. The Penguins managed five hits and three runs against the sophomore right-hander. Menfee walked three and struck out three.
- Travis Rowland was awarded his second save of the season. Rowland twirled 3.1 shutout innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
Key Moments
- NKU again scored a pair of runs in the top of the first. A Ganns sacrifice fly and Dominic Mercurio infield RBI single handed the Norse a 2-0 edge.
- YSU scored all of its runs in the second inning, clubbing four hits in the frame to lead 3-2.
- Menfee and Rowland kept the Penguins quiet throughout the remainder of the contest. The offense went on to quickly reclaim its lead, scoring two runs on four hits in the third for a 4-3 advantage.
- NKU's final run of the day came on a Zach Heming RBI single in the sixth.
Norse Notes
- The Norse earned their second-straight Horizon League Tournament berth and remain in third place in the HL after Saturday's action.
- TJ Alas has reached base in 42-straight games.
- In his last nine appearances, Menfee has posted a 1.75 ERA. The sophomore has thrown 25.2 innings across those appearances with just five earned runs allowed, 18 strikeouts and a .216 opposing batting average.
Up Next
- Northern Kentucky takes on No. 8 Kentucky in the final nonconference game of the 2017 season on Tuesday, May 16 at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
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