Warkentin’s grand slam ignites Xavier’s 5-2 victory over visiting NKU on Wednesday afternoon

NKyTribune staff

Matt Warkentin hit a third-inning grand slam as Xavier University posted a 5-2 win over Northern Kentucky University on Wednesday at Hayden Field in Cincinnati.

Ryan Fournier added a solo homer for Xavier, which improved to 20-25 overall. NKU limited Xavier to just two hits – both home runs — but dropped to 10-34 overall.

Griffin Doersching went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI for NKU, while Will Haueter was 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Haueter now has 56 doubles in his career, which is second in the NKU record books. He needs two more to catch Evan McDole’s record of 58.

NKU finished with a 6-2 advantage in hits, and neither team committed an error. Norse reliever Tyler Murphy pitched four scoreless innings, allowing just two walks and striking out three batters.

NKU travels to Oakland this weekend for a Horizon League series. The series begins on Friday at noon with a doubleheader at Cleary University’s Life Trust Stadium in Howell, Mich.

The teams conclude the series on Sunday at noon, with that game also at Life Trust Stadium. There will not be a Saturday game.

(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications, Xavier and staff reports)