After falling 12–6 on the road at Tennessee, the Northern Kentucky Norse returned to Bill Aker Baseball Complex for a three‑game home series against UNC Greensboro, taking the opener 14–8, dropping Game 2 by a 17–6 margin, and closing out the weekend with a 4–3 victory to secure the series win.
Game One
Northern Kentucky wasted no time setting the tone in the series opener, striking first in the bottom of the first inning. Mark Nowak opened the frame with a single to left, followed by another single from Jack Paulick. Josh Williams then worked a walk on a 3–0 count to load the bases. With one out, Pierce Bauerle lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the game’s first run. A wild pitch moved Williams to second and Paulick to third, and Marcus Harrison capitalized with an infield single to shortstop, extending the Norse lead to 2–0.
The momentum carried into the second inning when Nowak delivered again—this time with a solo home run to push the lead to 3–0.
UNC Greensboro answered in the third. Brantley Truitt put the Spartans on the board with a solo shot, and after a walk to Ethan Brittain, Jacob Dilley doubled to left to put two runners in scoring position. Brody Gardner grounded out too short to bring home a run, cutting the deficit to 3–2. Moments later, Jake Muller launched a two‑run homer to left, giving the Spartans their first lead of the afternoon at 4–3.
Northern Kentucky responded immediately in the bottom half. Williams doubled up the middle; Harrison was hit by a pitch, and Ethan Thomas singled to left to load the bases. That set the stage for Peter Krumins, who ripped a bases‑clearing double to left, swinging the lead back to the Norse at 6–4.
The back‑and‑forth continued in the fourth. UNC Greensboro loaded the bases on a walk, single, and another walk before Dilley was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Gardner followed with a sacrifice fly to right, tying the game 6–6.
NKU answered once more in the bottom of the inning. Nowak singled but was caught stealing, though Paulick later drew a walk, and Williams singled to right to put runners at the corners. Bauerle grounded out to short, bringing home Paulick to reclaim a 7–6 lead.
In the sixth, Paulick added insurance with a solo home run to make it 8–6. Bauerle singled and advanced to second on a balk, and Harrison doubled up the middle to put runners at second and third. Thomas followed with an RBI single to right, stretching the lead to 9–6.
UNC Greensboro kept fighting in the seventh. Jacob Budzik singled, Tanner Berry walked, and Luke Jenkins doubled to right to plate a run and move Berry to third. Jake Barbour grounded out to second to bring home another run, trimming the NKU lead to 9–8.
But the Norse delivered the knockout punch in the eighth. Bauerle singled, Thomas followed with an infield hit, and Landon Springmeyer singled up the middle to score Bauerle and make it 10–8. Krumins walked to load the bases, and Alex Brazer delivered the biggest swing of the game—a grand slam to left that blew the game open at 14–8.
UNC Greensboro mounted one final push in the ninth, but the Norse closed the door to secure a 14–8 victory in the series’ opener, snapping their five‑game losing streak.
Northern Kentucky’s lineup was locked in from top to bottom, piling up 14 runs on 19 hits. All nine starters recorded at least one hit, and six players finished with multi‑hit performances, underscoring the depth and balance of the Norse offense.
NKU turned to four arms to navigate the high‑scoring contest. EJ Miramontes made the start, working 3.1 innings while allowing six runs and striking out three. He was relieved by Gannon Wentz, who entered in the fourth and delivered two‑thirds of a scoreless inning to earn the win.
Tannis Lange followed with 2.2 innings, striking out three and allowing two runs as he bridged the middle innings. Gabe Stout closed the game with authority, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings and allowing just two baserunners to secure his second save of the season.
Game Two
Northern Kentucky struck first in the opening inning as Jack Paulick singled to shortstop and advanced to second on Josh Williams’ groundout. Pierce Bauerle followed by driving a double to center, bringing home Paulick to give the Norse an early 1–0 lead.
UNC Greensboro wasted no time responding. In the second, Jacob Budzik doubled to left, and Jake Barbour followed with a double to center to put runners at second and third. Tanner Berry then delivered a triple to right, driving in two runs to give the Spartans their first lead. Moments later, Berry scored on a wild pitch to make it 3–1. Brantley Truitt walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error, setting up Ethan Brittain, whose sacrifice fly extended the lead to 4–1.
The Spartans kept rolling in the third. Brody Gardner walked, Jake Muller singled, and Barbour added another single to load the bases. Berry continued his huge day with a two‑run single to second, stretching the lead to 6–1. Luke Jenkins followed with an RBI single to center, and Truitt dropped down a bunt to bring home another run, pushing the margin to 8–1. Brittain capped the inning with a single through the right side, driving in yet another run to make it 9–1.
UNC Greensboro’s offensive surge continued in the fourth. Muller opened the inning with a solo home run to left, extending the lead to 10–1. Budzik doubled again; Berry walked, and Jenkins delivered an RBI single to make it 11–1. Truitt added a run‑scoring single, and Brittain followed with a two‑RBI single to left, blowing the game open at 14–1.
Northern Kentucky showed life in the fifth. Williams walked, Bauerle singled, and Marcus Harrison drove in a run with a single to center. Ethan Thomas added an RBI single, and Peter Krumins followed with a double to right to make it 14–4. Braydon Rodgers then delivered a two‑run single to left, trimming the deficit to 14–6.
But the Spartans answered immediately in the sixth. Budzik doubled for the third time; Barbour walked, and Berry singled to left to drive in another run. Jenkins reached on a fielder’s choice to bring home Barbour, and after a wild pitch moved runners up, Truitt singled to load the bases. Brittain was hit by a pitch, and Jacob Dilley capped the inning with an RBI fielder’s choice, pushing the lead to 17–6.
With the margin at double digits after six innings, the game was shortened after the seventh as UNC Greensboro secured a dominant 17–6 victory under the 10‑run rule.
On the mound, Northern Kentucky turned to five pitchers. Logan Wilson made the start and threw 2.1 innings, allowing seven earned runs as he fell to 1–3 on the season. Relievers Gerold Hanson and MJ Castaneda each allowed multiple runs over the next two innings. Will Franklin closed the game with 1.2 scoreless innings, surrendering only a walk.
At the plate, the Norse finished 11-for-29, while UNC Greensboro’s explosive lineup went 16-for-34, capitalizing on nearly every scoring opportunity in a commanding performance.
Game Three
Both teams opened Game 3 quietly, trading scoreless frames through the first two innings before UNC Greensboro broke through in the third. Brody Gardner singled to center, advanced to second on Jake Muller’s groundout, and scored when Jacob Budzik lined a single up the middle to give the Spartans a 1–0 lead.
Northern Kentucky answered in the fourth as Ethan Thomas delivered a no‑doubt solo home run, tying the game 1–1.
UNC Greensboro regained control in the fifth. Gardner walked; Muller singled, and a wild pitch moved both runners up. Jake Barbour then drew a walk, and on a passed ball, Gardner came home to put the Spartans back in front 2–1. Another wild pitch allowed Muller to score, extending the lead to 3–1.
But the Norse punched back in the sixth. Thomas reached after being hit by a pitch, and Josh Williams followed with a walk. Pierce Bauerle then ripped a double to left, scoring Thomas and cutting the deficit to 3–2 as Williams moved to third. A passed ball allowed Williams to score the tying run, and Bauerle advanced to third. With momentum shifting, Braydon Rodgers stepped up and delivered a clutch RBI single to center, giving Northern Kentucky its first lead of the afternoon at 4–3.
UNC Greensboro threatened in the ninth, putting the tying run 90 feet away. Ethan Brittain reached on a wild pitch, and Jacob Dilley followed with an infield single to put runners at the corners. But the Norse defense held firm—Brittain was thrown out at third on a fielder’s choice; Muller flied out to right, and Budzik struck out swinging to seal the victory and the series.
Northern Kentucky’s pitching staff delivered one of its strongest collective performances of the season. Ryan Gill started and worked 4.2 innings, allowing three runs with one strikeout. Elijah Green took over in the fifth and turned in one of his best outings of the year, firing 3.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, allowing only two hits and a walk. Jared Teke handled the ninth under pressure, earning his fourth save of the season.
With the series win, Northern Kentucky improves to 15–19 overall.
The Norse will return to Bill Aker Baseball Complex on Tuesday to host the Ohio Bobcats, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.
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