HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team wraps up its spring break trip this weekend with a three-game series at Alabama State. The teams will meet on Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern for a doubleheader before closing the series on Sunday with a 2 p.m. matinee.
Northern Kentucky University Norse (1-11)Alabama State University Hornets (5-17)Barbara Williams Softball Complex (150) – Montgomery, Ala.
March 15 – 3 p.m. Eastern (DH)
March 16 – 2 p.m. Eastern
Series History: First meeting
#StartingNine – Tweetable Notes about the Norse this weekend
Wednesday's 10-run outburst at Tennessee State set a high-water mark for the Norse in the Division I era. #BigOffense It marks the first time NKU has put 10 or more runs on the board since a 12-2 victory over Saint Joseph's (Ind.) in the 2012 Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. The 12 hits set a season-high mark for the Norse.
Katelyn Roy's grand slam in Game 1 at Tennessee State on Wednesday was her 15th-career homer, placing fifth in NKU history. #RecordBooks The blast, her third of the season, gave the Norse some insurance in a 10-4 victory over the Tigers. Roy passed Shatona Campbell (2006-09) to take sole possession of fifth place in the career-record books. Roy needs seven more bombs to pass Rose Broderick (2007-10), who stands fourth with 21 career home runs.
Kate Bartolovich launched her first career home run in Game 2 of Wednesday's twin bill. #FreshmanFirsts The Hamilton, Ohio, native went 2-for-4 in the game, adding a double, two runs scored and two RBIs to her batting line.
Alex Caudill reached base safely in six of her seven times at the plate on Wednesday. #SetTheTable The senior pitcher and outfielder was 2-for-4 officially, but reached base twice via walk and once on a fielding error. She scored one run on the day and drove in another on a sacrifice fly. With the performance, Caudill now leads the team in on-base percentage at an even .500.
Ashlynn Roberts got her first collegiate hit and win in the same game, going 2-for-3 in the opener at Tennessee State. #HelpYourCause The freshman hurler doubled and scored as a part of a five-run sixth inning to help the Norse take a 10-4 win over the Tigers. Her performance at the plate earned her a start as the designated player in the nightcap. Roberts also went the distance in the circle, scattering seven hits and striking out one.
Rain had a major effect on the spring break trip, canceling two makeup games and two regularly scheduled games. #BestLaidPlans Games scheduled against UT Martin as makeup dates and Alabama A&M as original dates were all canceled due to unplayable field conditions from the previous rain and snow. The Norse have now lost 16 games from their original 56-game schedule while making up only six of those games.
Alabama State is coming off a 2-2 performance at the Tiny Laster Invitational. #Hornets A 9-5 win over Morgan State on March 7 snapped an 11-game slide for Alabama State. The Hornets have power offensively, boasting a .308 team batting average and 18 home runs so far this season. Carly Evans leads the way, batting .393 with 10 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs, one of six players batting over .300 for the team.
Head coach Kathy Stewart needs 11 wins to reach the 500-win plateau for her career. #ChasingHistory Stewart's entire coaching career has been at the helm of the Norse, where she has captured two conference titles at the Division II level and coached the Norse to an all-division record 55-game winning streak in 2005. She will look to join A-Sun colleagues Frank Griffin (838) of Stetson, Chris Hawkins (727) of USC Upstate and Tory Acheson (507) of Kennesaw State in the 500-win club.
NKU will welcome Butler to Highland Heights on Tuesday for a doubleheader. UpNext HomeSweetHome First pitch from the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field is set for 2 p.m. Fans who can't make it to the game can follow @NKUNorseGameDay on Twitter for the latest updates.
