NKU has won GLVC Tournament titles in 2005 and '09.
GLVC Tournament page
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University softball team will meet Bellarmine in the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament at noon Friday in East Peoria, Ill.
NKU is the No. 3 seed in the GLVC Tournament, while Bellarmine is the No. 6 seed. NKU is 28-13 overall and finished 18-5 in the GLVC. Bellarmine is 27-15 overall and the Knights were 14-8 in the GLVC.
Missouri-St. Louis is the No. 1 seed for the GLVC Tournament, while Lewis is the No. 2 seed. The double-elimination event continues through Sunday with the winner receiving an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
EARLIER THIS SEASON: NKU and Bellarmine split a doubleheader earlier this season in Louisville, Ky. The Norse won the opener, 3-0, on April 10, but Bellarmine salvaged a split by posting a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.
April Ehlers threw a two-hit shutout in the opener against Bellarmine. She also struck out 13 batters in the contest.
In the nightcap, NKU took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning. Bellarmine's Lauren Summe, however, hit a three-run homer with two outs to give the Knights a 4-3 walk-off victory.
GLVC TOURNAMENT HISTORY: NKU has won GLVC Tournament championships twice (2005 and '09). A year ago, the Norse advanced to the championship round but dropped a 7-5 decision to Lewis.
AGAINST THE FIELD THIS SEASON: NKU is 8-5 against the GLVC Tournament field this season. The Norse are 0-1 against Missouri-St. Louis, 1-1 against Lewis, 1-1 against Indianapolis, 2-0 against Quincy, 1-1 against Bellarmine, 1-1 against Drury and 2-0 against Rockhurst.
NO. 1 IN THE GLVC: NKU junior right-fielder
Ashley Gates leads the GLVC in batting average at a .440 clip. Gates also has nine home runs, 32 runs batted in and 12 doubles. Gates is also No. 1 in the GLVC in both on-base percentage at .528 and slugging percentage at .793.
Gates enters the GLVC Tournament with 31 career home runs, which is No. 1 in Norse history.
