Northern Kentucky University Athletics

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team will face stiff competition this weekend in the Charger Chillout tournament in Decatur, Ala.

In a slight schedule change, NKU will take on a pair of ranked opponents in No. 20 Wayne State (Mich.) and No. 2 North Georgia in Friday's action. Saturday's games see the Norse face Columbus State and West Georgia. On Sunday, NKU will close out the tournament with games against Barry and North Alabama.

Live stats and broadcasts for the games on Friday and Sunday will be available at nkunorse.com.

A WORD ABOUT WAYNE STATE: One of the Midwest Region's top teams, Wayne State opens its season on Friday as well. The Warriors return their top three hitters in Rebecca Stanley, who led the team with a .361 batting average, Becca Ryan, who had 10 doubles on the season, and Alison Allen, who led the team with 11 home runs and 30 runs batted in. Casey Hanes, who sported 30-9 record with a 0.79 earned run average and 283 strikeouts, returns to the circle for her senior season. Wayne State leads the all-time series, 7-4, but NKU has won three of the last four meetings between the teams.

A WORD ABOUT NORTH GEORGIA: The Saints are tabbed No. 2 in the NCAA Division II national preseason poll and proved their ranking with a 4-0 sweep at the season-opening Aiken (S.C.) Early Bird Tournament on Feb. 7-8, outscoring their opponents by a combined 28-4 margin. Kasey Knight and Kayla Martin led the charge offensively, each going 4-for-8 on the weekend, while Sarah Phillips was dominant in the circle, claiming two wins in three starts and striking out 21 batters in 13 1/3 innings. NKU has won the previous two meetings between the teams, both occurring in 2006.

A WORD ABOUT COLUMBUS STATE: The Cougars are 0-1 after falling by a 4-3 score to Queens (N.C.) in their season opener. Kristi Bullard and Rocky Hemmer each hit homers in the game while Britni McCall took the loss, giving up three runs on six hits in four innings of work. Last season, Columbus State compiled a 30-31 record. Saturday will mark the first meeting between the schools.

A WORD ABOUT WEST GEORGIA: The Wolves come into the tournament with a 2-4 record after a tour of the Peach State over the past week. Kristen Hall leads the team offensively with a .400 batting average (6-for-15), while Kaley Sullivan has driven in six runs to lead the team. West Georgia has taken both meetings between the teams historically, including a 5-3 win last season at the Charger Chillout.

A WORD ABOUT BARRY: The 6-0 Buccaneers are rolling after sweeping a four-game set against Miles at home last weekend. The Bucs are led offensively by Grace Collins, who is hitting at a .571 clip, while Sarah Broeseker claims the team lead with eight RBI. In the circle, Brianna Smith is a perfect 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings of work. Last season, Barry no-hit the Norse, 8-0, in the Charger Chillout. NKU is 0-3 all-time against the Bucs.

A WORD ABOUT NORTH ALABAMA: The Lions have struggled out of the gate, going 1-4 in their season-opening tournament at Pensacola, Fla. Jennifer Sharp is leading the offense for UNA, hitting .429 on the season with a .714 slugging percentage. Laurin Watts has an 0-2 record on the season, despite a solid 2.80 ERA in 15 innings of work. The Norse have claimed victory in three of the four previous meetings between the teams, with the last game being in 2006.

REPLACING OFFENSE: The Norse will have to find an answer offensively this season as the team has lost its top three hitters – Amanda Smith (.341), Cara Parker (.331) and Shatona Campbell (.322) – to graduation. Head coach Kathy Stewart will look to sophomore Jessica Farris, who leads all returners with a .315 average, and Ashley Gates, who set a new single-season home run mark in 2009 with 12 homers, to lead the charge.