Weekend game notes
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team suits up for the final time in the 2013 season this weekend, hosting Lipscomb for a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field.
First pitch for Friday's doubleheader as well as Saturday's single game is set for 1 p.m. Video for all games will be available via ASun.TV and live stats will be available at NKUNorse.com.
The Norse will honor their 2013 senior class in a special ceremony prior to Saturday's game as
Alesa Collinsworth,
Emily Schwaeble and Katie Sullivan will participate in their final games while representing the Black and Gold.
NKU enters its final weekend with a record of 11-38, including a 5-19 mark in A-Sun play, after three heartbreaking walk-off losses at the hands of Florida Gulf Coast, including two in extra innings.
LIPSCOMB SCOUTING REPORT: The Lady Bisons enter the final weekend of the season with a record of 29-22 overall and a 15-8 mark in the A-Sun. Lipscomb is assured a spot in next week's A-Sun Championships, which are being hosted at the Lady Bisons' home field, Draper Diamond. Paige Neely and Brittany Elmore are leading up the offensive efforts of the Lady Bisons thus far, with Neely driving in a team-high 35 runs on the strength of a .333 batting average and Elmore scoring a team-best 36 runs herself.
In the circle, Heather Parker's 2.23 earned run average leads the way for the LU pitching staff. Parker boasts a 12-11 record, including four shutouts, and has struck out 130 batters in 166.2 innings this season. Tanner Sanders backs up Parker with a 16-9 record and a 3.21 earned run average.
This weekend's series marks the first meeting between Northern Kentucky and Lipscomb.
JARBOE UNCHAINED: Outfielder
Dana Jarboe had a strong weekend against FGCU, going 4-for-7 (.571) with a walk, a double, a run scored and an RBI to lead the Norse offense on the weekend. The outburst raised Jarboe's batting average to .239 on the season, standing third on the team.
EXTRA INNINGS APLENTY: NKU saw itself in two more extra-inning games this weekend against Florida Gulf Coast, giving the Norse eight instances of free softball this season. Among conference rivals the total is surpassed only by NKU's opponent last weekend, FGCU, which has played nine extra-inning games this season. On the other end of the spectrum, South Carolina Upstate has played just one extra-inning game, a 12-8 loss at the hands of Kentucky.
THE STAGE IS SET: Save for a few seeding issues that will be resolved this week, the six-team field is set for next weekend's Atlantic Sun Conference Championships. South Carolina Upstate, North Florida, FGCU, Lipscomb, Kennesaw State and Stetson are assured spots in the tournament and a chance at the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
