Northern Kentucky University Athletics

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team looks to extend its 10-game win streak on Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader against Bellarmine at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex.

The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at noon.

Live stats and broadcast information for tomorrow's action will be available at nkunorse.com.

Bellarmine enters the day with a slight advantage over NKU for first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division standings.  The Knights are currently 15-8 overall, 7-1 in the GLVC.

NKU is 17-9 overall, 10-2 in the GLVC after sweeping a four-game series against Southern Indiana over the weekend.

BLUE RIBBON GAME:  The Family Nurturing Center will be in attendance tomorrow to spread the word about Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Fans are encouraged to wear blue in support of this cause. 

Kappa Delta will be selling items and accepting donations.  All proceeds will benefit the Family Nurturing Center's Blue Ribbon Campaign, which funds child abuse and bullying prevention programs and training throughout the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati area.

Jimmy Johns will be passing out free subs to students, and free sub cards will be given out for strikeouts.  Snacks and drinks will also be provided for free to students.

LAST TIME AGAINST BELLARMINE:  NKU earned a doubleheader sweep against Bellarmine to end the regular season on May 9, 2011.  The Norse picked up a 2-1 victory in extra innings in the opener and cruised to an 8-4 win in Game 2.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, Caleb Shelley walked Brad Clement, which brought Jake Morris home for the walk-off victory.

Clement went 3-for-3 with a run scored in the nightcap to lead the Norse.  Patrick Hyde and Zac Asman finished with two runs, while Morris drove in three runs.

The two teams split a doubleheader in Louisville, Ky., on April 6, 2011.

NKU leads the all-time series with a 72-48-1 record.

HECKTOR COMES THROUGH:  Kris Hecktor went 5-for-11 to help the Norse pick up three wins against Southern Indiana.  On Friday, he finished 2-for-3 with one run and two RBIs in a 12-5 victory. His double in the seventh was part of a four-run inning that helped sealed the win for NKU. 

Hecktor went 3-for-5 in Game 2 against the Screaming Eagles to extend his hit streak to nine games on Saturday.  He collected four runs, one RBI and two stolen bases.

Hecktor holds a .339 batting average on the season.  He has scored 11 times and added 10 RBIs for the Norse.

SMASHING SMITH:  Phil Smith added three home runs to his totals against Southern Indiana last weekend.  He hit two homers in a 12-5 victory on Friday, which helped the Norse even the score twice. 

His first home run tied the game at 2-all after the first inning.  Smith tied the game for a second time in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run over the left-center wall.

His five home runs places him tied for second in the GLVC.

LOEDING LEADS ON THE MOUND:  Brett Loeding collected two saves last weekend against Southern Indiana to up his season total to five.  He did not surrender a run in seven innings on the mound, and he collected ten strikeouts on the weekend.

Loeding holds a 4-1 record on the season. His 1.75 ERA ranks him fourth in the GLVC.  He leads the conference in innings pitched (46 1/3) and is second in strikeouts (43) and appearances (14).