Northern Kentucky University Athletics

GLVC Tournament home page

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team will look to close out a decade of dominance in the Great Lakes Valley Conference by capturing its sixth GLVC Tournament crown in 10 years this weekend.

The Norse, who enter this weekend as the No. 2 seed with a record of 32-18, won GLVC Tournament titles in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009.  NKU will open the 2012 tournament facing No. 7-seed Drury, with a first pitch from USI Stadium scheduled at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

NKU looks to right the ship after closing out the season with a series split against Lewis, which earned the tournament's No. 8 seed with its performance against the Norse.

LAST TIME AGAINST DRURY: The Norse and Panthers met twice in the 2011 GLVC Tournament with NKU winning both games and eliminating Drury in the semifinals by a 7-4 score.  The Norse capitalized on three Panthers errors in the second inning to plate four runs and never looked back. Tim Clark struck out three batters to claim the win while Brent Wethington threw 3 2/3 innings, striking out five for his first of three saves the season.  NKU holds a slight edge over the Panthers in the all-time series, 8-7.

HOW THE WEST WAS WON: The GLVC Tournament is organized into two four-team double-elimination brackets.  NKU will play at USI Stadium in a bracket with Drury, Missouri S&T and Missouri-St. Louis.  Over the last three seasons combined, NKU has posted a .500 or better record against each team in its bracket.  NKU is 3-1 against S&T and Drury and 2-0 against UMSL over that time span.

THE NEED FOR SPEED: The Norse enter the GLVC Tournament with 95 stolen bases on the season, ranking second in the league and first among tournament qualifiers.  Southern Indiana led the conference during the regular season, swiping 117 bags.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Max Colaner has been the catalyst for the Norse in the running game, stealing 27 bases this year to rank second in the GLVC.  What's more amazing is that Colaner has yet to be caught stealing this season, a streak that is tops in the league.  Colaner is one of only three GLVC players with 10 or more attempts without being caught: Lucas Matecki, UMSL (18-18), Brandon Brian, Saint Joseph's (11-11),

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE: Double plays have become a bit of a routine for the Norse defense, who have executed 41 twin killings to lead all GLVC defenses this season.

“LOEDING” UP FOR A LONG TRIP: NKU reliever Brett Loeding has certainly carried his fair share of the work in the Norse bullpen this season, throwing a league-high 86 2/3 innings on the season.  His workload is matched by his effectiveness, as Loeding has posted a 1.87 ERA on the year and has struck out 81 batters on the season, ranking in the top five among GLVC pitchers in each category.