Northern Kentucky University Athletics

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team will travel to Columbus, Ga., this weekend for a three-game series against nationally ranked Columbus State.

Columbus State enters the weekend ranked No. 7 in this week's NCAA Division II poll and currently holds a 12-3 record after defeating West Georgia 11-2 on Wednesday.

NKU and Columbus State will play a doubleheader on Saturday, which is set to begin at 1 p.m.  The two teams will return to the field for a single contest at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

The Norse improved to 3-5 on Tuesday after picking up an 8-2 victory over UC-Clermont.

NKU/CSU SERIES:  Columbus State holds a 4-1 lead in the all-time series against NKU.  The two teams have not faced each other since the 1990 season.  Columbus State ended NKU's season with a 7-1 victory in the NCAA South Atlantic Regional Tournament.

CONSISTENT CLEMENT:  Brad Clement has compiled a .313 batting average for the Norse with six runs and four RBIs on the season.  He has started all eight games this season and leads the team with 10 hits.

Clement broke open a tied game for NKU on Saturday against West Georgia with a triple in the top of the eighth.  Brett Cisper advanced home on the hit.  Clement proceeded to steal home after a pitching switch to seal the victory for the Norse. 

SMITH STEPS UP:  On Tuesday, Phil Smith went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI against UC-Clermont. He hit a triple to center field to bring home Clement to take a 1-0 lead after the first inning.

Smith singled up the middle to spark the Norse offense in the fifth inning.  He advanced to second base on a wild pitch and third on a passed ball.  Smith scored as Stevie Gipson-Eberhardt walked on another wild pitch.

GIPSON-EBERHARDT GOES DEEP:  Gipson-Eberhardt hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning in Game 1 against West Georgia on Saturday.

In addition to his home run, he also added a run in the ninth, scoring on a Cisper single.  Gipson-Eberhardt went 2-for-3 for NKU with two runs scored, two RBIs and the home run.  

Gipson-Eberhardt is batting .273 with three runs and four RBIs for the Norse.

LEADING LOEDING:  Brett Loeding picked up his first victory of the season in Game 2 against West Georgia on Saturday.  He pitched four innings of relief and did not allow a hit in the 5-3 win.

Loeding holds a 1.46 ERA on the season for NKU.  He has only surrendered two earned runs in four appearances on the mound.  Loeding has also collected eight strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings.  He is currently holding opposing batters to a .122 batting average.