DAYTON, Ohio — Northern Kentucky baseball forced its way to a second elimination game on Friday with a comeback win over Oakland, but were unable to move on to the championship game after falling to Wright State.
The loss to WSU marked the end of a third straight 30+ win season for the Norse, who finish 2025 with a 31-25 record.
GAME 1
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky - 10, Oakland - 8
LOCATION: Nischwitz Stadium
RECORDS: Northern Kentucky: 31-24 (18-12 Horizon) | Oakland: 19-41 (10-20 Horizon)
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN - PITCHING
- Conner Linn got the start, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing a pair of runs.
- Kaden Echeman took over for Linn, throwing 4.1 innings and striking out seven.
- Ryan Pehrson got the win after getting the final out of the seventh.
- Evan Fry got the save with a scoreless ninth. Shawn Parnell pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN - BATTING
HOW IT HAPPENED
- NKU fell down 2-0 in the first, but responded with a three spot in the home half thanks to a balk and a pair of RBI doubles from Josh Williams and Jake Paulick.
- Milwaukee scored five unanswered runs to go up 7-3, and then took an 8-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh, where NKU took advantage of an error and four straight bases loaded walks to take a 10-8 lead.
- Milwaukee loaded the bases in the eighth and brought the potential winning run to the plate in the ninth, but Shawn Parnell and Evan Fry pitched out of their respective jams to secure the win.
GAME 2
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Wright State - 18, Northern Kentucky - 1
LOCATION: Nischwitz Stadium
RECORDS: NKU: 31-25 (18-12 Horizon) | WSU: 36-19 (25-5 Horizon)
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- Brennan Rowe provided the lone hit for the Norse with a solo home run.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Wright State jumped out to an early 11-0 lead before Brennan Rowe's solo homer.
- NKU was unable to get any closer in the loss.
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