HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University Norse baseball opened its series with Oakland on Friday, looking to make a statement to open the first of three with the Golden Grizzlies. The Norse offense absolutely exploded, scoring 30 runs in just the first four innings of the game, pummelling Oakland 30-9 while setting plenty of records along the way. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 30, Oakland – 9 (7 innings)
LOCATION: Bill Aker Baseball Complex – Highland Heights, Ky.
RECORDS: NKU: 18-22 (7-9 HL) | OU: 10-27 (5-11 HL)

GAME SUMMARY
– Oakland grabbed an early lead on a solo homer early on, before the Norse just put things out of reach. The Norse scored five in the first, capped by a Mark Nowak solo home run, before scoring 12 runs in the second, its most in a game since 2023. In that second inning, Northern Kentucky recorded nine hits, three walks, and were hit by two pitches, as they exited the second up 17-1. The Norse weren't done, as after allowing five runs in the third, NKU then added seven more runs in the third, and capped it off with six in the fourth for a rout of a victory. 

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
– Northern Kentucky's 30 runs marked the most in its DI history, surpassing the previous high of 27 set in 2023. 
– Josh Williams made history for the Norse, as he became the first Northern Kentucky player to ever record six hits in a single game, finishing 6-7 from the plate with six RBI, five runs scored, three doubles, a triple, and a stolen base. 
    – Williams' three doubles tied the NKU single-game record. 
– Marcus Harrison finished 3-4 with five RBI, five runs scored, a double, a home run, two walks, and a hit by pitch, as he reached base safely on six occasions. 
    – Williams & Harrison's five runs scored tied the single-game NKU record. 
– Mark Nowak also had a mammoth day, finishing 5-6 with two doubles, a home run, three RBI, and a run scored. 
– Pierce Bauerle batted in the leadoff spot and finished 3-4 with four runs scored, a double, and a walk. 
– Ethan Thomas batted 2-3 with three RBI, three runs scored, a double, a walk, and an HBP. 
– Alex Brazer batted 2-4 with three runs scored, two RBI, and an HBP. 
– Despite not recording a hit, Hunter Friedberg scored three runs, drove in two, and reached base safely four times, with two walks and two HBPs. 
– Logan Wilson earned the win, moving to 2-3 on the season as he struck out four batters in four innings. 
– Will Franklin allowed just one run in 2.2 innings of work to close out the game.

UP NEXT
NKU is back home against Oakland on Saturday at 1 PM. 

FOLLOW NKU NORSE BASEBALL
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