HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University softball team hits the road for a three-game Horizon League series against Cleveland State this weekend. The action begins on Friday at 4 p.m. with the series concluding on Saturday with a noon doubleheader. All three games will be carried live on ESPN3.
 
Northern Kentucky University Norse (9-33, 2-12 Horizon)
Cleveland State University Vikings (11-26, 4-8 Horizon)
Viking Field – Cleveland, Ohio
April 22 – 4 p.m.
April 23 – noon (DH)
TV: ESPN3 // Ed Daugherty (Friday play-by-play) and Joe Jastrzemski (Saturday play-by-play)
Series History: Cleveland State leads, 2-0
 
Last Time Out
The Norse were swept by Horizon League leader Wright State in a midweek series, dropping games by scores of 3-1, 8-1 and 5-0. The Norse spread the offense around, with five different players each picking up two hits in the series. Zahrya McFarland had a pair of doubles on the series as well.
 
Scouting Cleveland State
The Vikings stand at 11-26 overall and 4-8 in Horizon League play after taking two of three from Valparaiso last weekend, clenching the series with a 10-7 win in Saturday's nightcap. Erica McNew stands as one of the top hitters in the Horizon League, batting .479 on the year with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs to mark an .872 slugging percentage. Katelind Phillips adds a .372 average and 12 RBIs while scoring a team-best 27 runs. In the circle, Susan Knight has gotten a bulk of the time, posting a 4.38 ERA and 50 strikeouts on a 1-13 record.
 
The Series
In the first meetings between the teams, Cleveland State claimed a pair of victories over the Norse last season on neutral ground. Katelyn Roy launched a two-run homer as teh Norse fell, 11-3, in the first game, while Dani Devlin and Paige McQueen notched sacrifice flies as the Norse dropped a 10-2 decision the next day.