Logan Spurlin issued his second-straight three RBI performance on Wednesday night to help lift the Northern Kentucky University baseball team over Butler 8-3 at Bill Aker Baseball Complex.
Spurlin went 2-for-3 with a home run in addition to his three RBI. Trey Ganns added a pair of RBI while Conor Ledger scored a game-high three runs after going 2-for-4 with an RBI and career-high three stolen bases.
The win went to reliever Pierce Knisley who tossed 3.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits to improve to 1-1 this season. Alex Bolia and Aric Harris each pitched a scoreless inning as Harris held the Bulldogs hitless in the ninth.
The Bulldogs (8-16) tacked on single runs in the first and third innings for a 2-0 lead. Northern Kentucky (9-16) put together a four-run bottom of the third for a 4-2 advantage and led the rest of the way.
Ledger and Spurlin laced RBI knocks while Will Haueter plated Tito Montgomery on a fielder’s choice. Ganns launched a sacrifice fly to send Haueter home for the 4-2 edge in the third.
The Norse posted two runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to put the game out of reach. Quint Heady launched a solo homer and Spurlin clubbed his second home run in as many games, extending the Norse lead to 8-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh frame, a fielder’s choice plated Butler’s final run for the 8-3 result.
The Norse return to action on Friday, when they open a three-game series at Wright State. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m. at Nischwitz Stadium.
NORSE NOTES:
— Spurlin, a senior catcher, is 4-for-7 with six RBI, two runs scored and two homers across the last two games. Spurlin entered the week with a team-high 17 RBI has pushed his season total to 23.
— Harris has now tossed 13.0 consecutive innings without issuing a walk and has struck out 13 in that span.
— Ledger and Spurlin are each on nine-game hitting streaks as Ledger has 12 hits and nine runs scored in that span.
From NKU Athletics