Northern Kentucky University Athletics

GLVC Tournament home page | Week 10 game notes

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team is no stranger to playing out of the bottom half of the bracket in the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament.

Just three seasons ago, the Norse became the lowest seed ever to capture a GLVC Tournament championship at No. 6, defeating No. 5 seed Lewis in the 2009 championship game, 10-2.

This year, NKU (33-17, 21-13 GLVC) head to East Peoria, Ill., as the No. 5 seed in the GLVC Tournament, ready to face off against Saint Joseph's in Friday's first-round game.  First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern. Live stats and audio will be available at nkunorse.com.

Friday will mark NKU's third consecutive game against the Pumas (34-17, 22-12 GLVC), who were swept by the Norse on Sunday to close out the regular season for both teams.  NKU holds a 3-1 record against SJC this season.

PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME: NKU has turned up the heat over the last three weeks of the season, winning five of their last six games and 10 of their last 12 entering GLVC Tournament play this weekend.

WINNER, WINNER, WINNER, ETC.: Emily Schwaeble allowed two runs on six hits and struck out 11 batters in a 5-2 victory over Saint Joseph's on Sunday to become the fifth NKU pitcher to win 20 games in a season and the first since Amanda Smith posted a 24-12 record in 2006.  The win was the last of three over the last week that earned Schwaeble GLVC Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this season.  Schwaeble enters the GLVC Tournament with a 20-5 record and a 2.05 ERA.

ROUND NUMBERS ROUNDING THE BASES: Kaylin Steinmetz and Emily Schwaeble hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the game in that 5-2 win over Saint Joseph's.  For Steinmetz, it marked her 20th home run of the season while Schwaeble's bomb was her 10th of the year and fifth of the week.

STEINMETZ STAYS NEAR THE TOP: Steinmetz's power display has continued to keep her on pace with the top home run hitters in the nation.  The freshman currently ranks third nationally in home runs with 20.  Additionally, Steinmetz leads all GLVC batters in slugging (.799) and total bases (125).

TWO MORE TWO-BAGGERS: Jessica Farris leads the Norse this season with 14 doubles and now totals 50 two-base hits in her career.  The senior now needs two more doubles to tie the NKU career record in the category, set by Angie Lindeman, who hit 52 doubles from 2002-05.