HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball rallied with three runs in the ninth inning, but fell short at Northern Kentucky University, 7-6, Tuesday afternoon in Highland Heights, Kentucky. USI is 16-20 overall, while NKU goes to 19-16.
USI had a pair of early leads to start the contest. Sophomore second baseman Parker Martin got the Screaming Eagles going in the first when he scored on an error for the 1-0 lead. The Norse responded with a tally in the bottom half of the frame to knot the game, 1-1.
The Eagles answered by taking a 2-1 advantage in the top of the second when junior catcher Charlie Marisca scored on a ground out by junior leftfielder Hunter Miller. NKU, however, exploded for four runs in the bottom of the second to grab a 5-2 advantage.
USI narrowed the gap to 5-3 in the third when junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens scored on a single by Marica to left center. The Eagles would leave the tying run on base before ending the frame.
NKU increased the lead to 7-3 with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. The 7-3 score would remain until the ninth when Kitchens hit a three-run blast over the left center wall with two outs for the eventual 7-6 final. NKU would close out the game by getting junior third baseman Patrick McLellan to ground out and finish the game.
Marisa and Martin led the USI bats for the game with two hits each, while Kitchens had a team-high three RBIs on his team-leading nine home runs.
On the mound, graduate left-hander Camden Dimidjian started and took the loss for the Eagles. Dimidjian allowed five runs on seven hits, while striking out two.
