HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team has a big weekend in store, as they launch Horizon League play against Valparaiso for the home opener at Bill Aker Baseball Complex. The three-game series begins on Friday with a 3 p.m. first pitch.


The series continues on Saturday at 1 p.m. and concludes on Sunday at noon.

The three-game set opens up the season's longest homestand that includes a stretch of seven-straight home games.

Links to live stats and audio are available at NKUNorse.com. The audio broadcast is set to begin 20 minutes prior to first pitch with coach and player interviews.

Fans who wish to attend are asked to park in the Kenton Drive garage.

Gameday Information
Valparaiso Crusaders (4-11) at Northern Kentucky Norse (6-10)
Bill Aker Baseball Complex | Highland Heights, Ky.
Friday, March 18 – 3 p.m.
Valpo: Sr., LHP Dalton Lundeen
NKU: So., RHP Pat Kelley
Saturday, March 19 – 1 p.m.
Valpo: Sr., RHP Trevor Haas
NKU: Jr., RHP Justin Watts
Sunday, March 20 - Noon
Valpo: Jr., RHP Mario Losi
NKU: So., LHP Trey Ganns
 
LAST TIME OUT: NKU last competed when they defeated Ohio, 7-6, in 10 innings in midweek action. Conor Ledger posted a pair of RBI, driving in the game-tying run in the eighth frame to force extra innings. He later drove in the game-winning run in the top of the 10th. NKU reliever Charlie Jerger twirled three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit to earn the win.

SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS: Valpo enters the weekend with a 4-11 overall record to sit seventh in the Horizon League. Valpo took one game off Dallas Baptist last weekend in a four-game series. The Crusaders are second in the Horizon League, behind the Norse, in batting average at .270. Jeff Edwards has a team-best .351 average while Shea Molitor has 15 RBI, trailed closely by Daniel Delaney with 14 RBI and team-high eight doubles. Teams are averaging .304 against Valpo pitchers as the staff owns a collective ERA of 6.09.

NKU AGAINST THE HORIZON LEAGUE: NKU is 10-9 against Horizon League teams, with a 2-1 all-time series record against the Crusaders. Northern Kentucky and Valpo last met in 1985 when the Norse took a pair of games, 10-4 and 4-3. Valpo's lone victory in the series history is a 5-4 win in 1984.

The Norse are 1-0 against Youngstown State, having posted a 4-3 win during the 1977 postseason. The NKU and Oakland series is tied at 1-apiece, while NKU is 6-7 against Wright State. NKU is set for its first meeting against League foes Milwaukee and UIC this season.

STOLEN BASE STREAK: Senior outfielder Quint Heady has stolen 29 bases in 30 attempts throughout his career at NKU. The only time the Louisville, Kentucky, native has been caught stealing was the first game of the 2013 season on Feb. 15, putting him on a streak of 29-straight stolen bases. Heady has stolen eight bases on eight attempts this season. The outfielder went 11-for-11 in stolen bases last season and 3-for-3 in 2014.

OUT OF THE BULLPEN: Norse relievers Charlie Jerger and Aric Harris have shined in relief this season, as the duo leads the pitching staff with ERAs of 1.86 and 2.61, respectively. Jerger tossed three scoreless innings against Ohio and has allowed two runs in 9.2 innings pitched this season. He has held opponents to a .211 average and is 2-0 with a save this season. Harris has been scoreless in his last 3.1 innings and has not walked a batter since his first outing on Feb. 21 at Troy. The senior has 14 strikeouts and two walks in 10.1 innings of work.

.300 CLUB: Four Norse are batting over .300 this season to help NKU to a League-leading .275 team batting average. Will Haueter leads the pack with a Horizon-League leading .396 average and season-long 14-game hitting streak that includes a trio of three-hit showings. Ty Amann follows with a .391 average after clubbing nine hits in eight games while Conor Ledger is batting .360. NKU's RBI leader Logan Spurlin rounds out the quartet with a .302 average to go with 12 RBI.

NORSE IN HOME OPENERS: NKU is 19-12 in home openers dating back to 1985 and is 1-2 in the Division I era after earning an 18-2 victory over UC Clermont in the home opener on March 16 last season.

ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Pat Kelley is slated to earn the Friday start for the second-straight week. Kelley has tossed 6.1 innings in each of his last two starts, which stands as a season-high for Norse pitchers. He leads the pitching staff with 21.1 innings pitched and has accrued a 5.06 ERA. Justin Watts is slated to make his fifth start of the season and last pitched at Alabama State where he tossed 5.1 innings. Watts leads NKU with 16 strikeouts and has totaled 16.1 innings of work. NKU's expected Sunday starter, Trey Ganns will make his second-straight Sunday start and third overall appearance. Ganns has held opponents to four runs, three earned, in 9.0 innings, walking just two batters.

UP NEXT: NKU's seven-game homestand continues on Tuesday, March 22 with a midweek contest against Northwestern. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Bill Aker Baseball Complex.