Emily Schwaeble leads the Norse both in the circle and at the plate as NKU holds its home opener on Sunday against Ashland.
Week 2 game notes
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team will open the home half of the 2012 schedule on Sunday when the Norse host regional foe Ashland at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field on Sunday.
The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at noon. Live coverage of the event will be available at nkunorse.com.
The Norse are looking for continued success after a 3-1 showing at the Charger Chillout tournament last weekend, including victories over West Georgia, Florida Tech and regional rival Wayne State (Mich.). It marked the first time in NKU's seven-year history at the tournament that the Norse came away with a winning record.
Ashland will open its 2012 season on Saturday at Bellarmine before visiting Highland Heights.
LAST TIME AGAINST ASHLAND: Emlyn Knerem threw a one-hit shutout to give the Eagles a 1-0 victory and eliminate NKU from the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional tournament on May 14. Alyssa Kelly went 2-3 with a pair of doubles and drove in Ashland's only run in the fourth inning. Ashland leads the all-time series between the teams, 31-17.
AN OFFENSIVE OPENING: As a team, the Norse have opened the season with a .327 batting average through four games. The mark leads all GLVC teams as NKU is one of just two teams in the league with a team batting average over .300 (William Jewell is batting .313).
“RED”-LINED: Mandi McQueen had an outstanding opening day to the 2012 season, going 6-8 with two doubles, a triple and five runs scored as NKU got wins over West Georgia (6-2) and Florida Tech (4-3). McQueen got four hits against West Georgia, marking her first career four-hit game. Last season, McQueen had three hits in four separate games.
DAVIS DELIVERS: Second baseman
Dee Dee Davis came through with a key hit in the seventh inning of NKU's win over Florida Tech on Friday. The sophomore smacked a double to the gap in right center to score McQueen and give NKU the 4-3 win. Davis is hitting .364 on the season and leads the team with a .500 on-base percentage.
TRIPLE YOUR PLEASURE: The Norse have found success getting in scoring position with one swing of the bat this season, claiming four triples through four games. Freshman outfield
Kaylin Steinmetz has two of those triples, while McQueen and
Allie Conner also have three-base hits. NKU's four doubles rank second in the GLVC behind Indianapolis, which has six.
BY SINGLE OR BY STRIKEOUT: Junior pitcher and outfielder
Emily Schwaeble has been a big part of NKU's early success on both sides of the ball. In the circle, Schwaeble put together an 11-strikeout effort in the 6-2 win over West Georgia. She also claimed a victory over Wayne State, holding the Warriors to two runs on four hits through 5.2 innings.
Schwaeble has been stellar at the plate as well, hitting at a .500 clip with a team-best four RBIs.
CAUDILL CUFFED 'EM: Freshman pitcher
Alex Caudill has struck out six batters looking over her first three appearances this season to lead all GLVC pitchers in the category. Caudill has seven strikeouts total on the year. The Lakota West product picked up a win and a save in three appearances over the weekend at the Charger Chillout.
