Northern Kentucky University Athletics

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. ­ - When the Northern Kentucky University baseball team takes the field for its home opener against Morehead State on March 26, the Bill Aker Baseball Complex will have a different look.

Norse fans will see two noticeable changes to both in the infield and outfield this season as the Norse embark on their inaugural season as an NCAA Division I program and a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

The grass and dirt in the infield have been dug out and will be replaced with a synthetic artificial turf playing field.  The only dirt that will remain will be the pitching mound.  The outfield will continue to be natural grass.

The addition of the turf will benefit the team during practice and the regular season.  When rain threatens, teams will not have to worry about long delays and rainouts due to the condition of the infield.

"During the season, if it pours down rain, we will come off the field, obviously," associate athletic director of operations and event management Chris Hafling said, "but we can go right back out and avoid massive rain delays, which is an advantage over the natural infield we used to have."

Additionally, the Norse will be able to practice on the field in certain conditions when they would not have been on the natural grass and dirt.

"Being the northern-most school in the Atlantic Sun, we are at a little bit of a disadvantage in regards to the weather.  Even in the dead of winter, if the ground is frozen and hard as a rock, they will still be able to get out on the turf," Hafling said.  "That will be a big benefit to the team because they will be able to be on their field more."

Previously, the team has been forced indoors to practice in Regents Hall or on the turf at the NKU Soccer Stadium when the field was not in shape for practicing. 

"Our on-field practice time before and during the season will be increased immensely," NKU head coach Todd Asalon said. "Since we don't have a true on-campus indoor facility, there will be days that we can get outside on the turf as opposed to going to the soccer field."

The infield is not the only part of the Bill Aker Baseball Complex to see changes.  The old outfield fence has also been removed and a new one will be installed, which will push the field out a little further than it has been in the past and provide more security to the complex, according to Hafling.  New foul poles will also be added as the fence in put into place.

The new turf and fence are the visible changes fans will see when they visit NKU for the 2013 season, but there is one change they will not be able to see.  A new drainage system is also being added in both the infield and outfield.

Previously known as Friendship Field, the baseball complex was renamed in honor of Bill Aker, the founder of the baseball program, in 2001.  Aker led the team from its beginning in 1971 until he retired in 2000 and compiled an 807-572-1 record.  He will be inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Jan. 4, 2013.

To keep up-to-date as the project progresses, follow NKU Athletics Facilities on Twitter at @NorseFacilities and like NKU Athletic Facilities on Facebook.

Fans interested in connecting with the team throughout the year can now follow the team on Twitter at @NKU_Baseball.

(Photographs used with permission from NKU Athletic Facilities)