Tim Downer

RENSSELAER, Ind. – Junior right-hander Rick Wood allowed just four hits in six innings Sunday as the Northern Kentucky University baseball team defeated Saint Joseph’s College, 7-1, in the first game of a doubleheader.

Wood – now 4-1 this season – also finished with six strikeouts for the Norse, who broke open a close game by scoring five runs in the sixth inning. Jerrod Fraley was 1-for-3 with a home run and two runs batted in, while Justin Mundt was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

In the nightcap, Saint Joseph’s avoided the sweep by posting an 8-1 victory over the Norse.

NKU, who swept a doubleheader from Saint Joseph’s on Saturday, is now 13-13 overall and 6-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

NKU will travel to Ashland, Ohio, on Tuesday for a doubleheader against Ashland University at 1 p.m.

Krystal Lewallen hurled a four-hit shutout Saturday and became Northern Kentucky University’s all-time career leader in strikeouts as the Norse posted a 2-0 victory over Grand Valley State University at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/Great Lakes Valley Conference Challenge.

Lewallen, a sophomore pitcher from Crestwood, Ky., struck out 11 Grand Valley State batters to pass Kim Bina on NKU’s career strikeout list with a total 320.

Lewallen also upped her season record to 14-1 with the victory as eighth-ranked NKU defeated 14th-ranked Grand Valley State.

Heather Cotner had a run-scoring single to lead the Norse offense. Megan Owens and Becky Napier each scored runs for NKU, which defeated Grand Valley State pitching ace Jennifer Mackson.

NKU also posted a 4-0 win over Wayne (Mich.) State University on Saturday, and the Norse completed the day with a 4-3 victory in eight innings against the University of Findlay.

*Article by Sports Information