Junior shortstop Jessica Farris has helped the Norse win 29 games.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – A familiar opponent awaits the Northern Kentucky University softball team in Friday's NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament opener.
NKU (29-15) will take on host Saginaw Valley State (35-16) in University Center, Mich., in the first round. It will mark the second time in three years NKU and Saginaw Valley State have met in the NCAA Tournament.
On May 9, 2009, Saginaw Valley State pulled out a 2-1 victory over NKU in 13 innings during the second round of the NCAA Tournament in University Center, Mich.
The two teams also met earlier this season at Kissimmee, Fla., and Saginaw Valley State posted a 4-2 win against NKU on March 5.
Indianapolis meets Ashland in the other first-round game on Friday. The two winning teams will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday, followed by the two losing squads playing an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. Another elimination game will follow at 4 p.m.
The championship round is scheduled for Sunday starting at 1 p.m.
Click here for the Midwest Regional Tournament page.
Ashley Gates leads the GLVC in hitting with a .438 batting average. Gates has hit a team-leading nine home runs this season. She is also NKU's all-time career leader with 31 homers.
Emily Schwaeble has added eight home runs this season and leads the Norse with 44 runs batted in.
