Game 1: NKU 2, USI 0

Game 2: USI 9, NKU 2


FLORENCE, Ky. – The University of Southern Indiana baseball team started a seven-game road swing with a doubleheader split at Northern Kentucky University Saturday afternoon in Florence, Kentucky. NKU won the opener, 2-0, while USI took the nightcap, 9-2.

USI's record goes to 12-6 overall and 3-3 in the GLVC, while NKU goes to 4-12 overall, 3-3 GLVC.

The Norse took game one with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win 2-0. NKU centerfielder Kenny Wilson singled to lead-off the inning and scored the game-winner on a single by leftfielder Jake Shaffer.

Shaffer would seal the victory by scoring on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Kevin Dusold.

USI would mount a comeback attempt in top of the ninth by loading the bases with no outs when sophomore leftfielder Greg Horn (Plainfield, Indiana) was hit by a pitch senior rightfielder Hunter Slade (Newburgh, Indiana) singled and junior designated hitter Josh Malone (Chesterton, Indiana) reached on a bunt single.

NKU would survive USI's final at-bat by getting sophomore leftfielder Chad Bruce (Fountaintown, Indiana) to strikeout junior catcher Garrett Oros (Aurora, Illinois) to hit into a fielder's choice with Horn being forced at the plate and sophomore third baseman Alex Thieroff (Greenfield, Indiana) finished the game by flying out to rightfield.

USI senior right-hander Adam Summers (Dyer, Indiana) took the tough loss on the mound for the Eagles. Summers (3-1) allowed the two runs and four hits while striking out five over six innings of work.

Trailing 1-0 in the nightcap, the Eagles would score seven unanswered runs to take command and go on to win 9-2.

USI got onto the scoreboard for the first time in the doubleheader in the fourth inning when junior second baseman Darin Mastroianni (Huntersville, North Carolina) tripled and scored on a throwing error by the NKU second baseman.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Eagles grabbed the lead with six runs. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single by Mastroianni. Mastroianni would finish the nightcap by going four-for-five with a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs.

The Eagles would go on to score a tally in the eighth and ninth to finish their scoring. NKU would post a single run in the eighth to try to cut into the USI lead.

On the mound, senior right-hander Adam Vetter (Crown Point, Indiana) posted his best outing of the season in the nine-inning complete game. Vetter (3-0) scattered four hits and two runs (one earned), while striking out five.

USI and NKU complete the three-game series 11 a.m. (CDT) Sunday at Champion Windows Field.