The Northern Kentucky University men’s baseball team began their campaign to defend their Great Lakes Valley Conference championship by dropping two out of three games against the University of Montevallo Falcons on Feb. 21 and 22 in Montevallo, Ala.

NKU got off to a fast start in the first game of the series with a convincing 12-0 victory behind a strong start from junior pitcher David Middendorf, who didn’t allow a run in five innings, and three RBI games from junior third basemen Shannon McCormick and senior designated hitter Pat Muth. The Flacons offense was able to wake up in the next two games, scoring a combined 22 runs and holding the Norse to only 17. The Falcons were able to pull out the final two games 9-8 and 13-9.

“After we won our first game 12-0, we thought we could just put it on cruise control,” said senior first baseman Evan McDole. “Obviously we couldn’t. I expect us to rebound this weekend.”

The Norse returns to action against Christen Brothers University with a three game series on Feb. 28 and 29 in Memphis, Ten. The Norse will hold their first home game on March 11 against University of Cincinnati at Clermont.

Story by Nick Jones