Northern Kentucky University Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team was picked to finish second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon.

Southern Indiana was chosen as the favorite to win the division, while Quincy was selected to finish first in the West Division.

Southern Indiana received 109 total points and received nine first-place votes.  The Norse fell just short of the top spot, collecting 108 points and four votes for first place.  Indianapolis and Saint Joseph's also received votes and were picked to finished third and fourth, respectively.

NKU finished with a 36-21 record last season and advanced to the third-round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament.  The Norse lost several key players from last season including All-American Dave Middendorf and Brian Erie, who earned All-Region and All-GLVC honors.

The Norse will look to Mike Nastold, a transfer from the University of Louisville, to lead the team on the mound.  Nastold was picked in the 37th round by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2011 draft but returned to school for his junior season.  He finished last season with a 4.81 ERA while collecting 35 strikeouts.

Junior Tim Clark returns to the mound for NKU after finishing with a 4-2 record last season.  Clark recorded a 3.02 ERA and 27 strikeouts.  He also threw two complete games.

Head coach Todd Asalon will turn to sophomores Brett Cisper and Zac Asman to provide an offensive spark after solid 2011 seasons.  Cisper finished with a .330 batting average and led the team in on-base percentage (.402) and hits (70).  His performance earned first-team All-Region and third-team All-GLVC honors last season.

Asman compiled a .309 batting average with 10 doubles, 27 RBIs and 20 runs scored.  He led the team with 13 stolen bases.

NKU will begin the season with a three-game series against North Georgia February 18-19 in Dahlonega, Ga.

2012 GREAT LAKES VALLEY CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL

EAST
Team Total Points (First-place votes)
1. Southern Indiana  109 (9)
2. Northern Kentucky 108 (4)
3. Indianapolis 87 (2)
4. Saint Joseph's 76 (1)
5. Lewis 67
6. Bellarmine 59
7. UW-Parkside 34
8. Kentucky Wesleyan 28

WEST
Team Total Points (First-place votes)
1. Quincy 114 (9)
2. Drury 102 (4)
3. Missouri S&T 94 (2)
4. Rockhurst 84 (1)
5. William Jewell* 55
6. Missouri-St. Louis 53
7. Maryville 38
8. Illinois-Springfield 28

*Not eligible for GLVC Baseball Championship Tournament