Reiter Saves the Day for UMSL in Sweep of NKU

Senior Outfielder Makes Defensive Web Gem; Drives in Winning Run

St. Louis, Mo. – UMSL centerfielder Jim Reiter (Troy, Mo./Troy Buchanan) was the hero for UMSL in the second game of a doubleheader sweep against Northern Kentucky. UMSL won the opener 4-1, and used a ninth inning rally to break a tie and beat the Norse 7-6 in the second game.

Reiter saved the day in the field in the eighth inning and then drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for the Rivermen as UMSL held off an NKU rally in that second game. UMSL took control early with a run in the first inning. The Rivermen then added three in the second inning, two of those coming on a two-run homer by Colby Hughes (Walnut Shade, Mo./Branson), his first of the season. Northern Kentucky got on the board in the third with a single run to make it a 4-1 game. UMSL would then get an RBI ground out from Logan Hughes (Walnut Shade, Mo./Branson) in the fifth. The Norse came right back with two of their own in the top of the sixth to make it a 5-3 game. Doug Wiles (Farmington, Mo./Farmington) would add to the UMSL lead and make it 6-3 with an RBI single in the bottom half of the sixth for the Rivermen.

Northern Kentucky charged right back with a run in the seventh to make it 6-4 and set the stage for a big eighth inning. The Norse got an RBI single with two on and then got a bases loaded ground out that brought home the second run of the inning to tie the score at 6-6 with runners on second and third. After a walk loaded the bases with two outs, NKU’s Ryan Wells hit a deep fly ball to left center that looked to bring home at least two runs, possibly three. Jim Reiter then saved the day for UMSL, making a full speed, diving catch that ended the inning. After UMSL failed to score in the bottom of the eight, Colby Hughes pitched a perfect top of the ninth inning in relief, striking out the last two hitters and giving UMSL a chance in the bottom of the ninth. Tony Grana (Ballwin, Mo./Lafayette) led off the inning with a walk and then stole second. Reiter then came through with a clutch hit, knocking an RBI single down the right field line to bring home Grana with the winning run as UMSL prevailed 7-6. Colby Hughes got the win in relief, improving his record to 4-0 on the year.

In the opener, the Rivermen got off to a quick start as Tony Grana led off the bottom of the first with a solo homer to right, his third of the year, for a 1-0 lead. NKU would score once in the third to tie the game before the Rivermen brought home three runs in the fourth inning, all with two outs. In that inning, UMSL had runners on second and third with two outs when Aaron Brown (Florissant, Mo./McCluer North) roped a two-run base hit and then came around to score on an RBI single by Doug Wiles for the 4-1 win. Matt Kueny (Boonville, Mo./Boonville) picked up the win to improve his record to a perfect 6-0 on the season. Colby Hughes pitched the last 1.2 innings to pick up the save.

UMSL is now 25-6 on the season and 13-3 in the GLVC. The Rivermen are in first place in the conference and lead both NKU and Indianapolis by three losses in the standings. UMSL will host Northern Kentucky again on Sunday in a single game starting at 12 noon. UMSL will then play a doubleheader at Lincoln on Monday afternoon before hosting the Blue Tigers in a single game on Wednesday at 3 pm.