DAYTON, Ohio – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team (2-6, 0-1 Horizon League) dropped its Horizon League opener with Wright State (1-5, 1-0 Horizon League), 11-5, on Friday afternoon at Nischwitz Stadium.
AT THE PLATE
- Griffin Doersching had a strong 3-for-5 day, which included a double and a two-RBI homer.
- Sam Hedges continued his early-season success, hitting a pair of singles and taking a walk to put together a 2-for-4 outing.
- Jayden Wakeham was 2-for-5 with an RBI on the day.
- Andrew Bacon and Treyvin Moss were the other Norse to register a hit.
ON THE MOUND
- Ben Gerl (L, 0-2) went the first five innings atop the mound, allowing four runs on hits and four walks. The freshman struck out nine, almost reaching his season high from the season-opener at ETSU on Feb. 20.
- Tyler Ollier relieved the lefty for an inning, giving up a pair of runs on as many hits.
- Noah Richardson threw for one out, allowing two runs, a couple hits and a walk.
- Tyler Murphy closed the game out, tossing for 1.2 innings. He had three runs score on his watch on a pair of hits and walks.
KEY MOMENTS
- Wright State was first on the scoreboard with two runs in the second inning. The Raiders added another run in the next frame to go up, 3-0.
- After being held without a hit through three innings, NKU scored a run in the fourth. Hedges led off with a single down the right-field line, Doersching singled past short and Wakeham claimed the RBI with a single up the middle.
- The Raiders followed with a run of their own in the bottom half of the fourth.
- Both sides were scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings. Wright State added four more insurance runs in the seventh.
- The eighth frame started off great for NKU with three-consecutive hits. Leading off was a Doersching double, followed by singles to right field by Wakeham and Bacon, respectively, plating one.
- Moss singled down the left-field line to bring Wakeham home, making it 8-3 in favor of Wright State.
- Wright State had three more runs in the eighth.
- Finishing out the game at the top of the ninth, Hedges had another single, this time past the shortstop, and Doersching blasted a homer to centerfield for the 30th of his career.
UP NEXT
The Norse continue the series with Wright State tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.