HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University Norse baseball took on Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon, after a thrilling extra-innings comeback victory on Friday. In the second game of the series, the Norse again found themselves down late, but rallied to score three in the ninth to force extra innings. A clutch tenth-inning pitching performance from Jared Teke and walk-off sacrifice fly from Mark Nowak did the trick as the Norse moved to 5-3 in league play. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky - 5, Youngstown State - 4 - 10 innings
LOCATION: Bill Aker Baseball Complex - Highland Heights, Ky.
RECORDS: Northern Kentucky: 12-13 (5-3 HL) | Youngstown State: 3-21 (1-4 HL)

GAME SUMMARY
– YSU took a second-inning lead, scoring three unearned runs off NKU starter EJ Miramontes. The Penguins then started the third with three straight singles, taking a 4-0 lead over NKU in the third, but Norse pitchers shut down the Penguins for the rest of the game, as Youngstown recorded three hits and no runs over the final seven innings. The Norse got one back in the fourth on an RBI double from Marcus Harrison, but stranded a pair of runners in the frame. After four scoreless innings from both sides, NKU got things going in the ninth with a trio of leadoff walks to start the inning. After a pair of strikeouts, Jackson Wang brought home two on a single, before Nolan Sparks scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. In the top of the tenth, the Penguins loaded the bases with no outs, but Jared Teke came up huge with a pair of strikeouts and a lineout to short to end the inning. The Norse then loaded the bases with no outs in the tenth, and they converted their scoring opportunity, as Nowak brought home Jake Paulick on a sacrifice fly to clinch the series. 

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN 
– NKU threw four pitchers in the contest, as EJ Miramontes got the start on the mound. He allowed one earned run, six hits, and three walks while striking out five batters over six solid frames. 
– Gannon Wentz relieved Miramontes in the seventh, and he pitched a hitless two-and-a-third, striking out three batters. Gerald Hanson closed out the ninth, but allowed a pair of baserunners in the tenth before being pulled, and Jared Teke slammed the door with three straight outs to end the tenth. 
– The Horizon League's batting leader, Marcus Harrison, led the Norse offense as he reached base in all five plate appearances. He finished the day 3-3 with two walks, a double, an RBI, and a run scored. 
– Josh Williams finished 2-5 on the day. 
– Jackson Wang finished 1-5 with a pair of RBI. 

UP NEXT
NKU wraps up the series on Sunday at 12 PM.

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