The NKU softball team celebrated a big victory last weekend at the NCAA Midwest Regional.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team will look to return to the NCAA Division II Championships for the first time since 2005 this weekend when the Norse welcome in Saint Joseph's for a best-of-three Super Regional series.
Game 1 will be played on Friday at noon with Game 2 following on Saturday at noon. Game 3, if necessary, will be played immediately following the conclusion of Game 2.
NKU (38-19) advances to the Super Regional after going 3-0 at the Midwest Regional No. 1, including a 2-0 victory over Indianapolis and a come-from-behind victory over Illinois Springfield, 4-3, in the tournament final.
Saint Joseph's (37-19) took a similar route through the Midwest Regional No. 2, defeating host Grand Valley State, 4-1, and claiming a pair of victories over Ashland, including a 5-1 win in the final.
The Norse and Pumas are no strangers to each other, having met five previous times in the regular season. The teams split a doubleheader in Highland Heights on March 24, with NKU taking a 4-1 win in Game 1 before falling 9-2 in the nightcap.
The Norse then swept the Pumas on the final day of the regular season, winning by scores of 5-2 and 2-1. The teams also met in the opening game of the GLVC Tournament, with NKU using three home runs to post a nine-run first inning en route to a 12-2 result.
NKU holds the edge in the all-time series, 34-19, and has won seven of the last eight meetings between the teams.
REGIONAL REPS: NKU's
Kaylin Steinmetz and
Emily Schwaeble were named to the Daktronics All-Midwest Region teams earlier this week. Steinmetz was tabbed as a first-team outfielder while Schwaeble earned second-team recognition as a utility player.
SUPER SCHWAEBLE: Emily Schwaeble was a huge part of NKU's advancement, winning all three games in the circle with two shutouts, striking out 27 batters in 21 innings of work. At the plate, Schwaeble hit the team's only home run of the tournament to spark a three-run sixth inning in NKU's victory over Illinois Springfield on Sunday.
LANG LIKES IT: Kari Lang led the Norse last weekend with 3 hits in 7 at bats, including an RBI single in the second inning of Sunday's win. Lang now stands a .261 on the season with 14 RBIs. NKU collected 15 hits combined in a very well pitched tournament.
HOME SWEET HOME: The Norse are 6-0 all-time in NCAA postseason games played at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field. The Norse hosted postseason games in 2004 and 2005, going 3-0 each season to sweep through regional play.
