Northern Kentucky loses series to rival Wright State in final home set of the 2026 season 

After a 12–0 home win over Miami Hamilton earlier in the week, Northern Kentucky welcomed rival Wright State to Highland Heights for a three‑game series in their final home set of the 2026 season, taking Game 1 12–11 before falling 18–6 in Game 2 and 17–10 in Sunday’s Senior Day finale. 

Game 1

Wright State struck first in the opening inning as Keegan Holmstrom singled up the middle, followed by an Andrew Duncan single to left that moved Holmstrom to second. A wild pitch advanced both runners, and Cy Turner drew a walk to load the bases. Brayden Blomquist then walked to force in the game’s first run. The Raiders added two more when Gus Gregory delivered a two‑run single, giving Wright State an early 3–0 lead. 

Northern Kentucky answered immediately. Pierce Bauerle singled to short; Jake Paulick followed with a single up the middle, and Josh Williams stepped in and crushed a three‑run home run to right‑center to tie the game 3–3. 

Wright State regained the lead in the second when Hunter Warren singled and later scored on Duncan’s RBI single to make it 4–3. In the third, after Blomquist was hit by a pitch, Gregory struck again—this time with a two‑run home run to left—to extend the Raiders’ lead to 6–3. 

NKU responded with a big inning of its own. Marcus Harrison and Ethan Thomas drew back‑to‑back walks, and Mark Nowak singled to load the bases. Landon Springmeyer then delivered the swing of the inning, ripping a three‑run double to left‑center to tie the game 6–6. Hunter Friedburg walked, and Alex Brazer followed with an RBI single to center, giving the Norse their first lead at 7–6. 

Wright State tied the game again in the fourth. JP Peltier singled, Duncan walked, and Turner singled to load the bases. Blomquist grounded into a double play, allowing Peltier to score, and a wild pitch moments later brought Duncan home to put the Raiders back in front 8–7. 

In the seventh, Gregory doubled and later scored on a Patrick Fultz double to right‑center to extend the lead to 9–7. In the eighth, Duncan singled and Turner launched a two‑run home run to center, giving Wright State an 11–7 advantage. 

But Northern Kentucky refused to fold. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Paulick singled; Williams singled, and Harrison walked to load the bases. Nowak came through with a clutch two‑run single to left to cut the deficit to 11–9. With two runners on, Springmeyer delivered the moment of the day—a walk‑off three‑run home run to left field, completing a stunning five‑run comeback and giving NKU a 12–11 victory in Game One. 

Elijah Green was outstanding in relief, throwing 5.2 innings of three‑run ball with six strikeouts and no walks, allowing eight hits before exiting with two outs in the ninth. Jared Teke earned the win after retiring the final batter on his first pitch, improving to 4–1 on the season. 

The Norse offense tallied 12 hits and seven walks, including three extra‑base hits. Springmeyer led the way, going 3‑for‑5 with six RBIs and two runs scored. Williams went 2‑for‑4 with a walk, three RBIs, and two runs. Nowak added a 2‑for‑4 performance with a walk, two RBIs, two runs, and a stolen base. Paulick extended his hitting streak to 14 games, finishing 2‑for‑5 with two runs scored. 

Game 2

Wright State wasted no time in Game Two. Hunter Warren opened the first inning with a single to left, followed by an Andrew Duncan single to center. Keegan Holmstrom then delivered the first big swing of the day, launching a three‑run home run to left‑center to give the Raiders an early 3–0 lead. 

Northern Kentucky responded immediately as Pierce Bauerle hammered a solo home run to left to cut the deficit to 3–1. 

In the second, Wright State added on when Zac Butler doubled to left‑center, moved to third on a Patrick Fultz lineout, and scored on Warren’s sacrifice fly to right, extending the lead to 4–1. NKU answered again in the bottom half as Alex Brazer crushed a solo home run to right‑center, making it 4–2. 

The Raiders broke the game open in the third. Brayden Blomquist tripled to right, and Gus Gregory singled him home to push the lead to 5–2. Fultz walked, and Warren reached on an error that allowed Gregory to score. Duncan followed with an RBI single, and Holmstrom added a two‑run single to right, capping a four‑run surge that stretched the lead to 9–2. 

The Norse fought back in the bottom of the inning. Jake Paulick singled, Josh Williams singled, and Marcus Harrison reached on an error, allowing Paulick to score to make it 9–3. A wild pitch moved both runners up, and Ethan Thomas singled to bring home Williams, trimming the deficit to 9–4. 

Wright State continued to pour it on in the fourth. Gregory singled, Fultz doubled, and Warren was intentionally walked to load the bases. Duncan was hit by a pitch to force in a run, and Holmstrom was hit as well to score another. JP Peltier followed with a two‑run single to center, pushing the Raiders’ lead to 13–4. 

In the fifth, Gregory added a solo home run to right, making it 14–4. NKU answered with a solo shot from Williams, cutting it to 14–5. 

The Raiders delivered the final blow in the eighth. Warren walked, Falkenstein walked, and Holmstrom was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Peltier then crushed a grand slam to left, extending the lead to 18–5. Braydon Rodgers added a solo home run for NKU in the bottom half, but the game ended in the eighth via run rule as Wright State evened the series with an 18–6 victory. 

Northern Kentucky used nine pitchers, and eight of them allowed at least one earned run as Wright State’s offense dominated from start to finish. Cody Little took the loss, allowing four earned runs on six hits in 1.2 innings, dropping to 3–2 on the season. Kyle Cortner was the lone bright spot on the mound, throwing two scoreless innings. 

Offensively, the Norse went 13‑for‑37 with four solo home runs but no walks. Williams led the way, going 3‑for‑5 with a homer and two runs scored. Paulick and Harrison each went 2‑for‑4, while Bauerle, Rodgers, and Brazer all homered.

Game 3

Northern Kentucky celebrated Senior Day in the series finale, and the Norse came out firing in the first inning. Pierce Bauerle opened the frame with a walk, Jake Paulick followed with a single to left, and Josh Williams drew a walk to load the bases. Marcus Harrison then delivered a two‑run single to center, advancing to second on the throw as Bauerle and Paulick scored for a 2–0 lead. Williams came home moments later when Ethan Thomas reached on a fielding error, pushing the NKU advantage to 3–0.

In the second, Williams walked and stole second before Harrison singled to right to bring him home, extending the lead to 4–0.

Wright State got on the board in the third when Gus Gregory singled, Patrick Fultz followed with a single, and Hunter Warren lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 4–1.

NKU answered immediately. Landon Springmeyer launched a solo home run to left to start the bottom of the third. Hunter Friedburg reached on a bunt single and stole second, and Alex Brazer singled to move him to third. Bauerle grounded out to bring home Friedburg, and Paulick grounded out to move Brazer to third. Williams then singled to left to score Brazer, giving the Norse a 7–1 lead.

Wright State stormed back in the fifth. Butler and Fultz drew walks, Warren singled to load the bases, and Duncan walked to force in a run. Holmstrom’s sacrifice fly made it 7–3, and a wild pitch brought home Warren to cut it to 7–4. After a walk to Peltier, Cy Turner delivered the biggest swing of the inning—a three‑run home run to left‑center to tie the game 7–7. Blomqvist was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a Fultz single to give the Raiders their first lead at 8–7.

NKU responded in the sixth. Thomas tied the game with a solo home run to left, Springmeyer doubled down the line, and Peter Krumins walked. Brazer then singled to left to score Springmeyer, putting the Norse back in front 9–8.

Wright State answered again in the seventh as Turner homered to right to tie the game 9–9. In the bottom half, Thomas walked, and after a fielder’s choice, Springmeyer doubled to left‑center to score Mark Nowak, giving NKU a 10–9 lead.

The Raiders took control in the eighth. Holmstrom singled, and Peltier followed with a two‑run home run to center to put Wright State ahead 11–10. Gregory walked and advanced on a wild pitch before Fultz singled him home to extend the lead to 12–10.

Wright State put the game away in the ninth. Duncan singled, Holmstrom reached on a bunt, and Peltier walked to load the bases. Turner reached on a fielder’s choice to score Duncan, Blomqvist doubled to bring home Holmstrom, and Gregory capped the comeback with a three‑run home run to left as the Raiders spoiled NKU’s Senior Day with a 17–10 victory and the series win.

EJ Miramontes started for the Norse, throwing 3.2 innings of one‑run ball with four hits, one walk, and a strikeout. Jared Teke was one of the few bright spots on the mound, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings with just two baserunners allowed.

Offensively, Landon Springmeyer led NKU with a 3‑for‑5 day, hitting two doubles and a home run while scoring twice and driving in two. Williams went 2‑for‑3 with three walks, a double, two runs scored, and three stolen bases. Harrison finished 2‑for‑6 with three RBIs and a steal, while Thomas went 1‑for‑2 with a home run, two walks, two HBPs, and two RBIs.

With the series loss, Northern Kentucky falls to 24–26 overall and 12–12 in Horizon League play.

The Norse now travel to Lexington to face the Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network Plus.