After an 11–8 home win over Ohio earlier in the week, the Northern Kentucky Norse traveled to Wisconsin for a three‑game series against the Milwaukee Panthers but were swept, losing Game 1 6–5 in extra innings, Game 2 14–4, and Game 3 14–9.
Game 1
Milwaukee struck quickly in the first. Grant Ross drew a walk on a 3–2 count, advanced to second on a wild pitch, then stole third following a throwing error. Dylan O’Connell was hit by a pitch and later stole second, setting the table for Dominic Kibler, who delivered a two‑run single up the middle to give the Panthers an early 2–0 lead.
The Panthers added on in the third. Ross doubled down the right‑field line, and Max Glusick’s bunt turned into another run after a throwing error by NKU, pushing the lead to 3–0. O’Connell then grounded out to shortstop to bring home Ross, extending Milwaukee’s advantage to 4–0.
NKU finally broke through in the seventh. Marcus Harrison singled to right, and Sam Bond followed with a single to second. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, Alex Brazer ripped a double to right‑center, driving in two and cutting the deficit to 4–2.
Milwaukee answered in the bottom half when O’Connell singled, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Bradyn Horn’s RBI single down the right‑field line to make it 5–2.
The Norse continued to chip away. In the eighth, Josh Williams walked and advanced on a wild pitch before Harrison singled up the middle to bring him home, trimming the margin to 5–3.
NKU rallied again in the ninth. Mark Nowak walked, Jake Paulick singled to right, and Nowak scored on another Milwaukee wild pitch to make it 5–4. Paulick moved to third, and Williams delivered a clutch double to left‑center to tie the game 5–5 and force extras.
Northern Kentucky threatened in the tenth after Brazer singled and advanced on a wild pitch, followed by walks to Nowak and Paulick to load the bases, but Ethan Thomas grounded into a double play to end the inning. Milwaukee capitalized in the eleventh when O’Connell walked, stole second, and scored on Joey Spence’s single to center for a 6–5 walk‑off win.
On the mound, Tannis Lange opened with 4.0 innings, allowing three earned runs with three strikeouts before Elijah Green followed with a strong 4.0‑inning relief outing, giving up just one run and striking out three. Gabe Stout handled the ninth and tenth without allowing a run, facing nine batters across two scoreless frames, while Jarrod Teke pitched the eleventh and took the loss, dropping to 2–1 on the season.
Offensively, NKU produced 13 hits in 43 at‑bats, highlighted by timely late‑inning rallies.
Game 2
After a scoreless first inning, Northern Kentucky struck first in the second. Mark Nowak drew a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a balk, and scored on Landon Springmeyer’s double to center for a 1–0 lead.
Milwaukee answered immediately. Marion and Spence reached on back‑to‑back walks and executed a double steal. Holmes walked to load the bases, Hadley drew another walk to tie the game, and Grant Ross followed with a three‑run homer to left to put the Panthers ahead 4–1.
NKU chipped away in the fifth when Brazer was hit by a pitch, Nowak reached on a fielder’s choice, Paulick walked, and Williams singled to left‑center to make it 4–2. A wild pitch later scored Paulick to cut the deficit to 4–3.
Milwaukee responded quickly. Hadley launched a solo home run in the bottom half, and the Panthers added another run in the sixth to push the lead to 6–3.
NKU added one more in the seventh when Nowak was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a Williams RBI single, trimming the deficit to 6–4. But Milwaukee broke the game open in the bottom of the inning with a four‑run surge, highlighted by Kibler’s two‑run double and Marion’s RBI double.
The game was suspended at the top of the eighth due to inclement weather and darkness and resumed on April 18. When play resumed, Milwaukee continued its offensive surge, adding four more runs to end the game 14–4 after eight innings.
On the mound, the Norse turned to EJ Miramontes, who allowed four runs and four walks in the loss, falling to 2–4. Cody Little provided the most stability, working the third through fifth innings and surrendering just one run without issuing a walk. Gerland Hanson and Gannon Wentz each allowed multiple runs, while Kyle Cortner and Maret Dye combined to give up four runs without recording an out in the eighth.
NKU’s offense managed only seven hits in 31 at‑bats.
Game 3
Milwaukee wasted no time in the series finale, exploding for six runs in the first inning. Ross walked, O’Connell singled, Kibler was hit by a pitch, and Horn grounded out to bring home the first run. Marion followed with a two‑run single, Spence was hit by a pitch, and both he and Marion executed a double steal. Holmes capped the inning with a three‑run home run for a commanding 6–0 lead.
The Panthers kept rolling in the second. O’Connell doubled, Kibler was hit again, Horn walked, and Marion drew a bases‑loaded walk. Spence followed with a three‑run double, Holmes reached on a fielding error to score another run, and Hadley singled home one more to push the lead to 12–0.
NKU finally broke through in the fourth. Harrison doubled, Thomas singled him home, Bauerle was hit by a pitch, and Rodgers singled in another run. Krumins was hit by a pitch, and Brazer delivered a two‑run single to make it 12–4.
In the fifth, Paulick doubled and scored on another Thomas single. Bauerle was hit again, and Rodgers singled to left to cut the margin to 12–6.
NKU kept pushing in the eighth. Paulick walked, Williams singled, and two wild pitches brought home a run. Thomas and Bauerle walked, and Rodgers delivered a two‑run single to bring NKU within 12–9.
Milwaukee answered immediately in the bottom of the eighth. O’Connell homered down the right‑field line, Kibler doubled, Marion was hit by a pitch, and Spence delivered a two‑run double — his second of the game — to push the lead to 15–9 and seal the sweep.
Northern Kentucky used five pitchers, with Gannon Wentz delivering the standout performance of the series — four scoreless innings with just two hits allowed and four strikeouts.
The Norse offense recorded 15 hits in 39 at‑bats.
The Northern Kentucky Norse fall to 16–22 overall and 6–9 in Horizon League play. They continue their road trip Tuesday in Athens, Ohio, taking on the Ohio Bobcats at 5:30 PM on ESPN+.
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