Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Week 5 game notes

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team returns to the road this weekend for Great Lakes Valley Conference action against divisional rivals Kentucky Wesleyan and Southern Indiana.

Live stats and broadcast information for Sunday's action at USI are available at nkunorse.com.

The Norse will look to improve on their 5-3 conference record and 11-7 overall mark against tough competition.

NKU took a pair of doubleheader splits in GLVC action last weekend, closing out inter-division play against Quincy and Illinois Springfield.  NKU's wins in each split were by 2-0 scores.

LAST TIME AGAINST KENTUCKY WESLEYAN: Emily Schwaeble hurled a four-hit shutout as the NKU offense fired on all cylinders to post a pair of run-rule victories over KWC on April 2, 2011.  A seven-run fifth inning helped NKU cruise to an 8-0 win in Game 1, while the Norse poured on eight runs in the fourth inning of Game 2 to post an 11-2 victory in five innings.  Mandi McQueen and Schwaeble each had five hits in the twin bill.  NKU holds the lead in the all-time series, 29-16.

LAST TIME AGAINST SOUTHERN INDIANA:  April Ehlers fanned 15 in the opener while Schwaeble and Natalie Papi each hit bombs in the night cap to give the Norse matching 5-1 victories in a doubleheader sweep over the Screaming Eagles.  The Norse hold the edge over USI all-time, 31-20, in a series that began in 1987.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Emily Schwaeble tossed her way into the weekly awards thanks to three shutouts, including her first career no-hitter, to claim the GLVC Pitcher of the Week award.  In seven appearances last week, Schwaeble went 5-0 with a 0.22 earned run average and struck out 54 batters.

RECORD PACE:  Kaylin Steinmetz already has nine home runs through 18 games of the 2012 softball season. It's a blistering pace that, if continued, could rewrite the NKU record books.  The current single-season record for home runs is 12, while the career mark is 31, both held by Ashley Gates (2009-11).  Steinmetz already ranks tied for 10th in career home runs at NKU.

FARRIS “MARCH”ING ON: Jessica Farris has found a rhythm at the plate in the month of March.  After starting slow out of the gates, hitting just .143 in the month of Feburary, she has put together a .326 average in March, including five multiple hit games.