Northern Kentucky Gets the Series Win Over Youngstown State on the Road

After suffering a 16–6 loss at home to Eastern Kentucky earlier in the week, Northern Kentucky rebounded on the road with a strong showing in Horizon League play, taking two of three games from Youngstown State. The Norse dropped the opener 11–6 on Friday but responded with a dominant 13–1 victory on Saturday and closed out the weekend with a 7–4 win in Sunday’s finale to secure the series.

Game 1

Northern Kentucky opened the series with early momentum, striking for three runs in the top of the first inning. Pierce Bauerle and Jake Paulick drew back‑to‑back walks to set the table, and Josh Williams followed with a well‑placed bunt that loaded the bases. Marcus Harrison put the Norse on the board with a fielder’s choice to shortstop, scoring Bauerle for a 1–0 lead. Ethan Thomas added a single to left to keep the inning moving, and Jackson Wang capped the early surge with a two‑run single that brought home both Williams and Harrison to make it 3–0.

Youngstown State answered in the bottom half when Luke Rossi reached on a throwing error and later scored on a double from Nathan Beckley, cutting the deficit to 3–1.

NKU extended its lead in the fourth inning. Bauerle singled to left, Paulick followed with a ground‑rule double to right, and Williams lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Bauerle and push the advantage to 4–1.

The game shifted dramatically in the sixth. The Penguins loaded the bases on a walk, a hit‑by‑pitch, and another walk before Ryan Schummer’s sacrifice fly made it 4–2. Rossi singled up the middle to bring home another run, and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. With the bases loaded again, Alex Jang was hit by a pitch to force in the tying run. Brady Shannon then delivered a two‑run single through the left side to give Youngstown State its first lead of the day, and Misael Uriepero followed with a two‑run double down the right‑field line to make it 8–4.

Youngstown State added three more in the seventh on a pair of singles, a walk, and a two‑run double from Alex Wang, stretching the lead to 11–4.

NKU pushed across a run in the eighth when Wang doubled, advanced on an error, and scored on a wild pitch. In the ninth, Mark Nowak walked and moved to second on a balk before Wang drove him in with a single to center, but the Norse were unable to close the gap.

Despite the loss, starter Logan Wilson turned in one of the best outings of the season for NKU, striking out nine batters in 4.2 innings while allowing just one run on three hits. Wang led the offense with a perfect 4‑for‑4 performance, adding a double, three RBIs, and a walk. Bauerle reached base three times and scored twice, while Thomas finished 2‑for‑5 with a double.

Final Score: Youngstown State 11, Northern Kentucky 6 

Game 2

Northern Kentucky responded to Friday’s loss with a dominant all‑around performance on Saturday, overwhelming Youngstown State 13–1 behind 16 hits, steady pitching, and production throughout the lineup.

The Norse wasted no time getting on the board. In the top of the first, Pierce Bauerle worked a full‑count walk, and Jake Paulick followed with another free pass to put two runners on. Ethan Thomas then ripped a double down the left‑field line, scoring Bauerle and giving NKU an early 1–0 lead.

Northern Kentucky added to its advantage in the fourth. Mark Nowak drew a walk and moved to third on a single from Peter Krumins, who later stole second. Landon Springmeyer followed with a single to left‑center, driving in Nowak to make it 2–0.

The Norse broke the game open in the fifth. Paulick led off the inning by launching a solo home run to right‑center. Williams reached on a bunt single and stole second, Marcus Harrison was hit by a pitch, and Thomas delivered his second double of the day to score Williams. Nowak added a sacrifice fly to right, extending the lead to 5–0.

NKU continued to pour it on in the eighth. Nowak singled, Krumins advanced him with a bunt, and Springmeyer drew a walk. Alex Brazer then doubled to right‑center, scoring Nowak. Bauerle lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Springmeyer, and Paulick added another extra‑base hit with a double down the right‑field line to score Brazer, pushing the lead to 8–0.

Youngstown State broke through in the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run from Garrett Cutting, but the Norse answered immediately with a five‑run ninth inning. Nowak reached on a bunt single, and Zach Pomatto followed with a single to right‑center. Pinch‑runner Hunter Friedburg stole second, and Springmeyer doubled to left to score both runners. Brazer then delivered the biggest swing of the inning, a two‑run home run to left field. Bauerle added a single, Paulick was hit by a pitch, and Williams capped the scoring with an RBI single to center.

On the mound, EJ Miramontes was outstanding, improving to 4–4 on the season after throwing five scoreless innings with one hit, one walk, and five strikeouts. Elijah Green closed out the final four innings, striking out four and allowing just one run.

Six different NKU players recorded multi‑hit games. Paulick went 2‑for‑4 with a home run, double, walk, two RBIs, and a run scored. Thomas finished 2‑for‑6 with two doubles and two RBIs. Brazer added a home run, double, and three RBIs, while Springmeyer went 2‑for‑4 with three RBIs, a double, and two runs scored. Williams contributed two hits, a steal, two RBIs, and a run.

Northern Kentucky’s offensive surge and dominant pitching performance evened the series and set the stage for Sunday’s decisive finale.

Final Score: Northern Kentucky 13, Youngstown State 1 

Game 3

Northern Kentucky closed out the weekend with a complete team performance on Sunday, using timely hitting and strong relief pitching to secure a 7–4 victory and clinch the road series over Youngstown State.

After two scoreless innings, the Penguins struck first in the third. Nic Goodwin opened the frame with a double to left, and Garrett Cutting followed with a double down the left‑field line to bring him home for a 1–0 lead. Cutting was later caught stealing third, but Youngstown State added to its advantage moments later when Brady Shannon launched a solo home run to left, extending the lead to 2–0.

The Norse answered in the fourth. Jake Paulick worked a full‑count walk and advanced to second before Ethan Thomas lined a single to center, scoring Paulick to cut the deficit to 2–1.

NKU pulled even in the fifth when Alex Brazer stepped to the plate and delivered a solo home run to left, tying the game at 2–2.

The Norse took control in the seventh with a decisive three‑run inning. Landon Springmeyer led off with a triple to center, and Zach Pomatto followed with a single to right to give NKU its first lead of the afternoon. Peter Krumins entered as a pinch‑runner, advanced to second on a bunt from Brazer, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Pierce Bauerle to make it 4–2. Paulick then doubled to right, and Josh Williams drove him in with a single to center, pushing the lead to 5–2.

Northern Kentucky added key insurance in the ninth. Bauerle singled to third and stole second, setting the stage for Paulick, who delivered a two‑run home run to right‑center to extend the lead to 7–2.

Youngstown State mounted a final push in the bottom of the ninth. Cutting opened the inning with a solo home run, Shannon singled, and Ryan Schummer drew a walk. After a fielder’s choice put runners on the corners, Nathan Beckley singled up the middle to score Shannon and make it 7–4. The rally ended there, as NKU closed out the win and secured the series.

The Norse used seven pitchers in the finale. Starter Cody Little struck out three in 2.1 innings, while Tannis Lange delivered an impressive 2.2‑inning relief outing with five strikeouts and just one hit allowed. Jared Teke earned the win with 1.2 hitless innings, improving to 3–1 on the season. Gabe Stout added two strikeouts in 1.1 innings, and Gerald Hanson recorded his first save by striking out both batters he faced.

Offensively, Paulick led the way, going 3‑for‑4 with a two‑run homer, a double, a walk, and three runs scored. Marcus Harrison added a 2‑for‑4 performance with a double, while Thomas went 2‑for‑4 with an RBI.

Final Score: Northern Kentucky 7, Youngstown State 4 

With the series victory, Northern Kentucky improved to 22–24 overall and 11–10 in Horizon League play. The Norse return home Wednesday to host Miami Hamilton, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. EST.