BOX SCORE

SAUGET, Ill.- Northern Kentucky handed the UIndy baseball team a 5-4 loss at the Great Lakes Valley Tournament Saturday at GCS Ballpark.  NKU's bullpen allowed just a single unearned run in seven-and-a-third innings to setup a game-winning homerun in the bottom of the eighth that sent the Greyhounds to the losers' bracket in the double-elimination tourney.

The Greyhounds got to NKU starter Jarrett Casey early with two runs in the top of the first.  Casey allowed just one hit in the frame, but the Hounds benefited from two walks before a fielder's choice and a successful squeeze bunt from Matt Murphy made to 2-0.

Similar control problems plagued UIndy starter Andrew Werner in the bottom half, however, as the senior hurler issued three free passes to help NKU match the Hounds' run total.  The inning also featured an RBI double from all-conference first teamer Kevin Dusold, giving him 11 ribbies for the tournament.

UIndy (39-18) kept it going with another tally in the third.  Travis Capps had a leadoff double and advanced to third on a Casey Potter single. The Norse induced the 6-4-3 double play but Capps scored in the process to regain the lead for Indianapolis.

After a rough first inning that featured 38 pitches, three walks, and two NKU runs, Werner (pictured) kept the Norse off the board for four straight innings.  He struggled to get his breaking ball over the plate early, but eventually found his release point to keep the Norse hitters off balance.

Werner got an out to start the sixth, but after he surrendered a single, Head Coach Gary Vaught went to lefty Travis Kempton, who proceeded to pick off the runner and garner a strikeout to end the inning and keep Werner in line for the win.

Though the Hounds pitching staff kept hanging up zeros, so did the UIndy offense.  Indianapolis chased Casey in the second shortly after scoring its third run, but couldn't manage another score until the eighth.

Meanwhile, the Norse (39-20) broke through with a two-spot in the seventh to take their first lead of the game.  NKU sandwiched a single with two hit batsmen to load the bases with nobody out. Second baseman Scott Lawley made a great play by snow-coning a soft liner, but Northern followed with an infield single and a squeeze play to go up 4-3.

The Hounds got one back in the top of the eighth on a fielder's choice RBI from pinch hitter Danny Collier, but the Norse answered with a homerun from leadoff man Jason Cisper in the bottom half that proved to be the game winner.

Cisper's high fly ball just cleared the short porch in right to hand Kempton the loss.  He finished his 1.2 innings pitched and three earned runs allowed.

Offensively, Russell and Capps were both 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Potter added two singles.

UIndy awaits the winner of today's second game, featuring Bellarmine and Southern Indiana.  The loser of that contest will head home while the winner will meet the Greyhounds in a scheduled 8 p.m. Central start.


Note: Saturday's game marked the fourth straight one-run game between UIndy and NKU.