NKU baseball team on threshold of first trip to NCAA Division I tournament as Horizon League champion

Northern Kentucky University’s baseball team is one win away from receiving a berth in the NCAA Division I playoffs for the first time in the history of the program after reaching the Horizon League championship final.

NKU pitcher Tanner Gillis had 11 strikeouts in 8.2 innings to pick up the win in the Horizon League winner’s bracket final. (Photo from nkunorse.com website)

The Norse (34-22) advanced to the tournament’s title game with a 10-6 win over Wright State in the winner’s bracket final on Friday at Nischwitz Stadium on the Wright State campus in Dayton, Ohio.

Youngstown State then eliminated Wright State, 6-3, in the loser’s bracket final and will have to beat NKU twice on Saturday to take the title.

The first championship round game is set for noon Saturday and will be televised on ESPN+ If a second game is needed, it’s set to begin at 4 p.m.

The winner of the Horizon League tournament will advance to the NCAA Division I playoffs. The brackets will be announced on Monday.

NKU scored two runs in the first, second and third innings to take a 6-0 lead over Wright State in the winner’s bracket final. The Norse opened up a 10-1 lead in the seventh inning on a 3-run homer by graduate student Treyvin Moss and run-scoring single by sophomore Logan Devenport.

The winning pitcher was NKU graduate student Tanner Gillis, who now has an 8-2 record. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 8.2 innings with 11 strikeouts and one walk.

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