HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team is set to embark on the 2016 season on Friday when it opens a four-game series at Troy.

The season opener is a 7 p.m. ET first pitch at Riddle-Pace Field. The series continues on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m., and concludes Sunday with a 2 p.m. first pitch.

Links to live stats and internet broadcast for each contest are available at NKUNorse.com.




Game Information
Northern Kentucky (0-0) at Troy (0-0)
Friday, Feb. 19 – 7 p.m. ET
NKU: RHP Justin Watts
Troy: RHP Grant Bennett
Saturday, Feb. 20 – Doubleheader – 2 p.m. ET
NKU: RHP Pierce Knisley/RHP Jordan Menfee
Troy: RHP Lucas Brown/LHP Evan Hebert
Sunday, Feb. 21 – 2 p.m. ET
NKU: RHP Pat Kelley
Troy: TBA
 
ABOUT TROY: The Trojans went 30-25 last season with 22 wins coming at home. Troy lost each of its three top hitters with the conclusion of the 2015 campaign. Junior TJ Binder posted a .283 average last year, while sophomore Reid Long registered 30 RBI to lead the returners.

The projected Friday starter, Grant Bennet, was recently named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game. Bennett posted a 3.12 ERA and 9-4 record across 106.2 innings of work last season. Lucas Brown is expected to start game one on Saturday and led the Trojans with a 2.85 ERA last year with 60 strikeouts. Newcomer Evan Hebert will get the starting nod in game two.

LAST MEETING: NKU opened the 2014 season at Troy where the Trojans posted a four-run eighth inning and defeated NKU, 7-0. The Norse took one game off Troy in the four-game series in 2014 when the NKU pitching staff struck out 16 batters, a Division I record for the Norse. Starter Aric Harris struck out eight batters while Kyle Colletta went 2-for-4 at the plate and Logan Spurlin clubbed an RBI double en route to a 6-5 win in game three.

2015 REVIEW: Northern Kentucky is set to open its first season as a member of the Horizon League and is coming off a 17-34 season in the 2015 campaign that included a 5-16 mark in the Atlantic Sun Conference. NKU's 17 wins last season is a Division I program benchmark. The Norse are set to begin their fourth season as a DI program on Friday.

GANNS' PRESEASON ACCOLADES: Two-way player Trey Ganns was named to the Preseason All-Horizon League team and also earned second-team All-League recognition from College Sports Madness. As a rookie, Ganns recorded a .296 batting average, making him NKU's top returning hitter. Ganns had 50 hits, was second on the team in RBI with 25 and posted a team-high 24 walks. On the mound, the lefty struck out 10 batters over 11.2 innings and is expected to split time on the mound and at first base this season.

A LOOK AT THE ROSTER: The Norse welcome 13 newcomers this season including seven Junior College transfers. The newcomers join a roster that features 11 juniors and eight seniors. The squad looks to fill the gap left by outfielder Cole Bauml who was drafted in the 10th round by the Detroit Tigers after leading NKU with a .350 batting average and 57 hits, 34 of which were extra-base hits. Despite the loss of Bauml, the outfield will be bolstered by a pair of returning seniors in Quint Heady, who batted .284 with 18 RBI last season, and Anthony Vagnier, who was errorless on the season in 59 total chances.

ON THE MOUND: The Norse are armed with a pair of veteran arms in Watts and Tyler Miller as the duo looks to replace starters Matt Jefferson and Evan Korson who led the squad in innings pitched last season with 84.2 and 67.2, repsectively. Watts will be a staple in the rotation after serving as a key reliever in 2015 and also earning time as the Friday starter. Watts tossed 35.0 innings and posted a 6.94 ERA while issuing just 15 walks in 15 appearances and six starts. Peirce Knisley is expected to start on Saturday after making nine appearances and one start last season. Newcomers Jordan Menfee, a freshman from Forest Hill, Maryland, and Pat Kelley, a transfer out of the University of Lethbridge in Canada, look to make an immediate impact as both are slated to start against Troy.

IN THE BULLPEN: Miller will provide a key arm both as a starter and in relief after leading the pitching staff with a 3.72 ERA across 38.2 innings last season. Miller held opponents to a .243 average and made six starts and 11 relief appearances last year. Senior Aric Harris also adds depth to the pitching staff after accruing a 5.27 ERA in 14 appearances last season and will be joined in the bullpen by fellow seniors Alex Bolia and Clark Pence.

HEAD COACH TODD ASALON: Todd Asalon enters his 16th season as the baseball head coach at NKU. Asalon owns a 473-390-1 record in 15 years at the helm of the program. Asalon led NKU in its storied Division II history, coaching the Norse to eight NCAA Tournament appearances. During his tenure, 12 players have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft including one in back-to-back seasons at the Division I level. Jordan Procyshen was selected to the Boston Red Sox in the 14th round of the 2014 MLB Draft while Bauml went to the Detroit Tigers in the 10th round in 2015.