HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University Norse baseball faced off in the series finale with UNC Greensboro on Sunday, after splitting the previous two matchups on Friday and Saturday. Northern Kentucky fell behind midway through but scored three in the sixth, which was enough to stave off the Spartans as Norse pitchers Elijah Green and Jared Teke came up big down the stretch. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky - 4, UNC Greensboro - 3
LOCATION: Bill Aker Baseball Complex - Highland Heights, Ky.
RECORDS: NKU: 15-19 | UNCG: 15-21

GAME SUMMARY
– UNC Greensboro started the scoring in the third on an RBI single up the middle, but did well to prevent more as Norse starting pitcher Ryan Gill stranded a pair of runners in scoring position. Northern Kentucky tied things up in the fourth on a first-pitch blast from Ethan Thomas, his sixth of the season. UNCG responded in the fifth with a pair of runs on a passed ball and a wild pitch. With two outs and runners on in the bottom of the sixth, the Norse rallied to take a 4-3 lead on a double from Pierce Bauerle, a passed ball, and a Brayden Rogers single. NKU reliever Elijah Green faced just seven batters over the seventh and eighth, before Jared Teke saved it in the ninth with three-straight outs to close the series. 

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN 
– NKU's pitching was top-notch, as Ryan Gill got the start and threw a season-long 4.2 innings where he allowed three runs with a strikeout. Elijah Green, who'd been Northern Kentucky's Sunday starter for the majority of the season, came in to relieve Gill in the fifth, and exited with one of his best outings of the season, striking out five over 3.1 scoreless frames. Green allowed just a pair of hits and a walk while on the mound. Jared Teke faced the minimum in the ninth after coming in with runners on, earning his fourth save of the season. 
– It wasn't a banner day for the NKU bats, but timely hitting got it done, as the Norse finished with five hits in 29 at-bats, drawing three walks and a pair of HBPs. Two of NKU's hits went for extra bases, and the Norse stranded six runners on the day compared to ten from the Spartans. 
– Pierce Bauerle went 2-3 with an RBI double, drawing a walk and scoring the winning run. 
– Ethan Thomas finished the day 1-3 with his solo home run while also scoring in the sixth. 

UP NEXT
NKU takes on Ohio on Tuesday at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex.

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