Bickel’s Grand Slam Powers Rally in Game One Win Over NKU

Sunday, March 26

Fort Wayne, Ind.

11:45 AM

Purdue Fort Wayne

6-17, 3-2

Northern Kentucky

11-10, 3-2

Northern Kentucky

Purdue Fort Wayne

Photo by: Josh Gales

Bickel’s Grand Slam Powers Rally in Game One Win Over NKU

3/26/2023 10:04:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Game 2 Box Photo Gallery

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Jarrett Bickel hit a seventh inning game-tying grand slam to help the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons defeat Northern Kentucky 9-5 in game one on Sunday (March 26). The 'Dons dropped the second contest 10-1.

Game One – Mastodons 9, Norse 5
The Norse led 5-1 entering the bottom of the seventh. Ben Gerl started for the Norse on the mound but the Norse were forced to go to their bullpen to start the inning. The 'Dons took quick advantage by loading the bases with one out. Bickel then came to the plate and took a 3-1 pitch over the wall to tie it up. A double, two walks and two wild pitches gave the 'Dons a 7-5 lead. They made it a 9-5 lead with a key two-out two-RBI double by Cade Nelis in the eighth.

Meanwhile JD Deany was putting up zeros out of the pen for the 'Dons. He threw the final 5.0 innings, allowing no runs and two hits with five strikeouts. He is now 2-2 with the win.

Nelis finished with three hits in the game. Caileb Johnson and Braedon Blackford each had two hits. Blackford had a solo home run in the third inning.

Game Two – Norse 10, Mastodons 1
The Mastodons' only run of game two came on a Johnson home run in the ninth. Northern Kentucky scored three in the second, one in the third, four in the sixth and two more in the eighth.

John Odom had a home run for the Norse. Kaden Echeman (2-1) got the win in 7.0 innings of work. Owen Willard started and is now 0-1 after taking the loss in 2.0 innings of action.

The Norse are now 12-10 (4-2 Horizon League). The 'Dons are now 6-18 (3-3 Horizon League). Purdue Fort Wayne returns to action on Tuesday with a non-league home game against Bowling Green.

~ Feel The Rumble ~