HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team returns home for a pair of non-conference games against in-state rival Eastern Kentucky at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
The Norse (3-37) are looking to rebound after dropping both ends of a doubleheader to Atlantic Sun Conference foe Mercer. NKU lost the opener, 4-1, before tasting a 9-1 defeat to conclude the twin bill. Both NKU runs came on solo homers,
Dee Dee Davis provided the pop in the opener while
KC Straley hit her first career home run in Game 2.
NKU and EKU have met previously this season, but their game at Louisville on Feb. 23 was called in the second inning due to heavy snowfall. NKU was leading the contest, 5-3.
A WORD ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY: The Colonels enter the midweek twin bill with a 25-16 overall record after splitting a pair of Ohio Valley Conference games against Austin Peay. Offensively, Christina Ciolek leads the way with a .390 on-base percentage, 20 runs scored and 26 RBIs. Sarah Fobbs has provided the power as well, smacking a team-high eight home runs. Krislyn Campos adds the speed, stealing seven bases so far this season.
In the circle, Leanna Pittsenbarger stands as one of the top pitchers in the nation. She enters the Tuesday doubleheader with a 17-8 record and a 1.25 ERA. She has struck out 242 batters over her 162 innings of work this year, and ranks among the nation's best in ERA (11
th), strikeouts per seven innings (10.5, seventh), strikeouts (third), shutouts (second) and hits allowed per seven innings (2.98, second). Opponents are batting just .128 against the junior from Urbana, Ohio.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE COLONELS: Alex Caudill carried a one-hit shutout through six innings, but EKU came through in the seventh inning to claim a 3-2 win and sweep a doubleheader at Gertrude Hood Field on April 23, 2013.
Michelle Carson broke the six-inning deadlock with a home run and
Dee Dee Davis added a run-scoring double. Pittsenbarger and Shaylon Robb each picked up wins in the circle for EKU, which took a 3-2 lead in the all-time series with the result.
EARTH DAY GIVEAWAY: NKU will hold an Earth Day celebration at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field on Tuesday. The day's events will feature Go Green Giveaways, which include an NKU reusable grocery bag and hand sanitizer.
