Purdue Fort Wayne
17-31, 10-15
Northern Kentucky
28-21, 15-10
Fitzpatrick Hits Three Home Runs in 18-8 Rout of NKU
5/10/2024 5:54:00 PM | Baseball
The Mastodons tied a season high with five home runs in the game. Nick Sutherlin had a home run in the first and Ben Higgins hit one in the fifth. Fitzpatrick's home runs came in the first, third and fifth innings. He finished with five RBIs in the game. He is the first Mastodon to hit three home runs in a game since Higgins did it last season at Youngstown State.
The odd innings were good for the 'Dons on Friday, scoring four in the first, seven in the third, three in the fifth and four in the seventh. The third inning was highlighted by Fitzpatrick's home run and a two-RBI single by Grant Thoroman.
The 'Dons recorded 20 hits with Brooks Sailors and Jacob Walker joining Fitzpatrick with three hits. All nine starters had at least one hit, one run and one RBI. Eight of nine starters had multiple hits. Purdue Fort Wayne went 7-for-16 (.438) with runners in scoring position.
Kevin Fee (6-1) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Purdue Fort Wayne. The right-hander went 3.1 innings, giving up one unearned run on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out two. He entered the game in the fourth with the 'Dons up 11-7 and the bases loaded with two outs for the Norse. He needed just one pitch to get the third out and end the threat.
Northern Kentucky was led offensively by Brennan Rowe, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Ben Gerl took the loss for NKU. He is 3-6.
The 'Dons improve to 17-31 (10-15 Horizon League). NKU is now 28-21 (15-10 Horizon League). The two teams will play game two of the three-game series on Saturday. A win by the 'Dons would give the season series to the 'Dons after taking two-of-three from NKU earlier this year.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fee, Kevin (6-1)
L: B. Gerl (3-6)
Batting:
2B: Micheels, Jackson 1 ; Simpson, Nate 1
HR: Sutherlin, Nick 1 ; Higgins, Ben 1 ; Fitzpatrick, Cade 3
RBI: Walker, Jacob 1 ; Karczewski, Camden 1 ; Thoroman, Grant 2 ; Sutherlin, Nick 3 ; Higgins, Ben 2 ; Fitzpatrick, Cade 5 ; Micheels, Jackson 1 ; Simpson, Nate 1 ; Sailors, Brooks 2
SF: Sutherlin, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Walker, Jacob 2 ; Karczewski, Camden 1 ; Thoroman, Grant 1 ; Sutherlin, Nick 2 ; Higgins, Ben 4 ; Fitzpatrick, Cade 3 ; Micheels, Jackson 2 ; Simpson, Nate 2 ; Sailors, Brooks 1
SB: Thoroman, Grant 1
HBP: Higgins, Ben 2 ; Simpson, Nate 1
Batting:
2B: L. Devenport 1
HR: T. Moss 1 ; B. Rowe 1
RBI: T. Moss 1 ; T. Shaneyfel 1 ; L. Devenport 1 ; J. Paulick 2 ; B. Rowe 3
Base Running:
RUNS: T. Moss 2 ; L. McFadden- 1 ; T. Shaneyfel 1 ; J. Odom 1 ; L. Devenport 2 ; B. Rowe 1
SB: T. Shaneyfel 1
