Northern Kentucky's Liam McFadden-Ackman accomplishes rarest baseball feat in single inning
McFadden-Ackman saw two at-bats with bases loaded in the first inning and made them worthwhile
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}There’s having a day on the baseball diamond, and then there’s what Northern Kentucky University’s Liam McFadden-Ackman did on Sunday afternoon. He accomplished a feat that only Fernando Tatis can say he did in Major League Baseball history, let alone college baseball.
The NKU Norse were facing off against Western Michigan, and things got ugly real early for the Broncos. After scoring once in the first, Western Michigan took an early lead to the bottom of the frame, but wouldn’t hold onto it for long.
Northern Kentucky unleashed 14 runs in that first inning, and McFadden-Ackman is a key reason why that occurred.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON foxnews.1eye.us
Victor E. Viking of Northern Kentucky University takes the field for the annual Mascot Tee Ball game on Aug. 27, 2011, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. (John Grieshop/Getty Images)
He hit two grand slams in the same inning. Now, read that again.
With the bases loaded, McFadden-Ackman, the Norse’s four-hole hitter, roped a ball to left field that had home run written all over it off the bat. Four runs came across to score and NKU was in control after giving up that one run to WMU.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}HOUSTON'S DREW BIANCO FLIPS OVER WALL TO ROB HOME RUN IN JAW-DROPPING FASHION
But the Norse weren’t done. They capitalized on every opportunity they had putting up five more runs until the lineup came back around to McFadden-Ackman with the bases juiced again.
He connected well on another ball, and while this one hung in the air longer than the first, it eventually cleared the fence for another grand slam.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The NCAA logo on the field of TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Peter Lockley/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Video shows McFadden-Ackman rightfully celebrating as he turned third base and headed for home plate. This is a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment in the sport, and it came in the first inning.
McFadden-Ackman would get a hit in three more at-bats, finishing his day 5-for-6 with four runs scored and 10 RBIs, including a single that drove in two runs in the sixth inning.
TENNESSEE HEAD BASEBALL COACH SUSPENDED FOR WEEKEND SERIES DUE TO ‘VIOLATION IN THE PROGRAM’
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}If there was a mercy rule, Western Michigan would’ve liked it as the game ended 27-4 after nine innings. The Norse had 19 hits to the Broncos’ 10.
Tatis remains the only big leaguer to hit two grand slams in a single inning, dating back to April 23, 1999, when he faced the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals.
In college baseball, though, Caleb Pendleton of Florida Atlanta University accomplished the feat in his first two collegiate at-bats in the same inning in 2021.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A ball and glove on the field before the College World Series on June 24, 2019, at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
McFadden-Ackman is having a great start to his 2023 season with the Norse, hitting .348 with four homers, 15 RBIs, one double and one triple in seven games thus far.