DAYTON, Ohio – The Northern Kentucky baseball program opened the 2024 Horizon League Championships with a bang as the Norse recorded a 5-3 win over Milwaukee in their tournament opener at Wright State on Thursday.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Northern Kentucky – 5, Milwaukee – 3 (9 innings)
LOCATION: Nischwitz Stadium – Dayton, Ohio
RECORDS: NKU 33-22 (19-11 HL), MIL 19-35 (13-17 HL)
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Big Game Benny made a huge appearance as
Ben Gerl twirled an absolute gem on the mound. The standout senior went eight strong innings to go with four strikeouts and just seven hits and three earned runs allowed.
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Treyvin Moss paced the Norse offense with a 1-for-3 day that featured two RBI.
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Logen Devenport also chipped in a big outing with a near-perfect 3-for-4 effort with a RBI and two runs scored.
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Cleary Simpson picked up NKU's other RBI in the contest.
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Tyler Shaneyfelt came around to score twice off a 1-for-3 afternoon.
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Brennan Rowe rounded things out with a 2-for-3 day at the dish with a run scored and a stolen base.
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Aaron Massie picked up his fourth save of the year as he closed out the victory with a scoreless ninth.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Milwaukee got on the board first with a run in the top of the second to take a quick 1-0 lead.
- Northern Kentucky responded right back with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame. Devenport doubled down the right field line to plate Shaneyfelt and Simpson followed it up with a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to put NKU ahead, 2-1.
- The Panthers tied things with another run in the top of the fourth, but the Norse answered back once again with one run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to jump back ahead, 5-2.
- Milwaukee attempted a short-lived comeback with a single run in the top of the ninth but once again, NKU was up to the challenge and slammed the door to collect the 5-3 win.
A LOOK AROUND THE NIGHTLY NEWS
NEXT UP
The Norse are set for a rematch with the No. 1 seeded Wright State Raiders on Friday, May 24. First pitch is set for 11 AM ET at Nischwitz Stadium. The contest will be played in front of a national audience on ESPN+. The winner of the game will advance to the Horizon League Championship round.
FOLLOW NKU NORSE BASEBALL
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