Box  score

EVANSVILLE, Ind.- A three-run 10th inning spelled the end of the season for the UIndy baseball team, as Northern Kentucky eliminated the Greyhounds with a 15-12 win at the NCAA D-II Midwest Regional Saturday.  The high-scoring see-saw affair featured a combined 13 pitchers and 29 hits and lasted nearly four hours.

The potent NKU offense showed its teeth in the first, as left-handers Bryan Rose and Evan McDole hit consecutive solo homers to give the Norse the early lead.  UIndy starter Travis Capps endured a 23-pitch first inning before getting a double-play grounder to end the threat.

Batting as the home team for the first time in the tourney, Indianapolis halved the NKU lead in the bottom of the second.  A leadoff double from Kaleb Cunningham got things started.  Cunningham was bunted over to third before Chase Kittinger drove him home with a single up the middle.

Capps took the mound for the second and immediately surrendered a leadoff single – the third hit of the day by a lefthander – but Capps, an all-conference second-team selection as a third baseman, settled down to retire each of the next five batters, including striking out the side in the third.

The NKU lefties continued to give Capps trouble, however, combining to go 5-for-10 with three extra-base hits against the Indianapolis starter.  Capps allowed three more runs in the fourth, and after letting the leadoff man reach in the fifth, he was pulled in favor of reliever Matt Widick.

Despite the short outing from Capps, a four-run fourth inning from the Hounds knotted it at five apiece to ensure a no decision for the UIndy starter.  The productive frame featured two RBIs from both Chris Ulrey and Adam Rusche.

Rusche (pictured) supplemented his success at the plate with a pair of run-saving catches in the field.  The Greyhound rightfielder snagged a hard line drive in both the fourth and fifth innings, each coming with the bases loaded and two outs.

The sixth inning started with a three-spot from NKU.  The Norse went back-to-back again, as a homer from Midwest Region Player of the Year Jason Cisper preceded the second dinger of the game from Rose.

The Greyhounds shifted the momentum back their way with a six-run answer in the bottom of the inning.  In addition to four walks, three hits, and an error, the bizarre frame featured two pitchers, a pinch runner who scored and later earned an RBI on a hit by pitch, as well as an injection of a member of the NKU bullpen.

All six runs were charged to the Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year, Kevin Jordan, who pitched a complete-game six-hitter in NKU's tournament opener just two days ago.

The action continued as another lead change occurred the following inning.  The Norse erased the 11-8 deficit with four runs in the top of the seventh.  However, UIndy pushed across the tying run in the eighth on an RBI groundout by Matt Maringer.

After pitcher Vince Saisi retired the Norse in order in the top half of the ninth, the Greyhounds had the potential game-winning run at second for pinch hitter Kyle Anderson.  Anderson battled back from an 0-2 count before driving the ball to right center, but the ball was caught, forcing extra innings.

The top of the order produced again for the Norse, as Cisper started the tenth with a single and stole a pair of bases.  Each steal was followed by an intentional walk, setting up a bases-loaded, no-out situation for Jeff Bohlen, who delivered a two-run single through the right side.

NKU tacked on one more run before the Hounds' final at bat, but the Norse didn't need it, as UIndy went down quietly in the bottom of the 10th.  Andy Betts took the loss for UIndy

UIndy finishes its season at 35-22 while Northern Kentucky advances to play top-seeded Southern Indiana in the regional semifinal.