ROCHESTER, Mich. – Northern Kentucky University Norse baseball hit the road on Friday to open a Horizon League series with the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. NKU, after stumbling at home to Milwaukee to open the Horizon League campaign, dropping the series 2-1, moved to .500 in conference play as they downed Oakland 9-6

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky - 9, Oakland – 6
LOCATION: Oakland Baseball Field – Rochester, Michigan
RECORDS: Northern Kentucky: 9-11 (2-2 HL) | Oakland: 3-16 (2-2 HL)

GAME SUMMARY
– Northern Kentucky gave up a first-inning run, but scored five runs in the third and never trailed after that. Josh Williams' sixth home run of the season helped provide enough cushion for the Norse, who had a great pitching performance before a near-collapse in the ninth inning. A three-run, four-hit sixth inning was the ultimate difference in the game. In the bottom of the ninth, Gannon Wentz got a pair of outs but allowed a run and departed with the bases loaded, where Gabe Stout avoided a complete breakdown by striking out the final batter after walking in a pair of runs. 

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN 
– Through eight innings, it was a great day for the Norse pitching staff, as they only threw two arms. Logan Wilson got the start and earned his first win of the season, going six innings, allowing eight hits, no walks, three runs (two earned), and two HBPs while striking out a pair of batters. After totaling 75 pitches, he was pulled for Gannon Wentz, who cleared Wilson's bases-loaded jam in the seventh before putting the Golden Grizzlies down in order in the eighth. Gabe Stout faced three batters, striking out the final one of the game. 
– NKU's offense tallied nine hits in 34 at-bats, walking thrice and getting plunked four times. NKU had just two extra-base hits in the game. 
– Josh Williams batted 2-5 with a three-run homer. 
– Jackson Wang went 2-5 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored. 
– Pierce Bauerle went 1-3 with an RBI ground-rule double, scoring two runs while batting in one. He was hit by a pitch on two occasions.
– Jake Paulick went 1-3 with a run, an RBI, and a walk. 
– Ethan Thomas and Braydon Rodgers each went 1-3 with a walk and a run scored. 

UP NEXT
NKU takes on Oakland on Saturday at 2 PM. 

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