Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Midwest Regional Tournament Central | Full tournament information

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team opens its final trip to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional on Friday, facing Illinois Springfield in a rematch of last weekend's Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament matchup.

The Norse (35-19) were eliminated from the GLVC Tournament by the Prairie Stars (34-20) by a score of 12-9.  UIS has won two of the three meetings between the teams this season.

The tournament will be held at Baumgartner Field on the campus of The University of Indianapolis, where the host Greyhounds will take on Wayne State (Mich.) in the other opening round contest.

NKU will be seeking its first NCAA Tournament win since 2010 and its first regional title since 2005.  Last year, NKU lost games to Saginaw Valley State and Ashland by matching 1-0 scores.

Live stats for all games and audio links as available will be posted at nkunorse.com.

TOURNAMENT ADVISORY: Due to commencement exercises on Saturday, it is recommended that fans use Keystone Avenue and I-65 to approach campus and the parking lots.  Fans should avoid using Hanna Avenue on Saturday. Details on parking and traffic patterns for the weekend are available at the Midwest Regional Tournament website.

HOME RUN HEROES: NKU enters NCAA Tournament play having hit 57 home runs this season, shattering the former single-season team record of 37, which was set in 2009.  Just last weekend alone, the Norse led all GLVC Tournament participants with 13 homers.

NATIONAL LEADER: Freshman outfield Kaylin Steinmetz currently stands atop the nation in home runs with 23 on the season, including three last weekend at the GLVC Tournament.  She now stands 13th all-time in Division II history for home runs in a single-season. Earlier this season, Steinmetz became the single-season record holder for home runs and the freshman needs just eight more long balls to tie the NKU career mark of 31.

TRIPLE YOUR PLEASURE…TWICE: On two separate occasions last weekend, the NKU softball team hit three home runs in a single inning.  The first came in the nine-run first frame against Saint Joseph's when Steinmetz, Emily Schwaeble and Michelle Carson each went deep.  The second was in a five-run fifth inning against Bellarmine that saw Steinmetz, Natalie Papi and Katelyn Roy each go deep.