HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team plays host to UIC this weekend for a three-game Horizon League series at Bill Aker Baseball Complex. First pitch for the series opener on Friday, April 8 has been moved to 1 p.m. in anticipation of inclement weather. All games are set to air on ESPN3.
The series continues on Saturday at 1 p.m. while. the finale will be played Sunday at noon.
Live stats will be available in addition to the ESPN3 broadcast. Links to each are available on NKUNorse.com
Gameday Information
UIC Flames (11-16, 3-2 Horizon League)
at Northern Kentucky Norse (11-18, 1-8 Horizon League)
Bill Aker Baseball Complex | Highland Heights, Ky.
Friday, April 8 – 1 p.m.
UIC: Jr., RHP Connor Ryan
NKU: Jr., RHP Justin Watts
Saturday, April 9 – 1 p.m.
UIC: Jr., LHP Jake Dahlberg
NKU: So., RHP Pat Kelley
Sunday, April 10 – Noon
UIC: Sr., RHP Ian Lewandowski
NKU: Sr., RHP Tyler Miller
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse have won two of their last three contests after defeating Miami (Ohio), 5-1, on Tuesday. Tyler Miller tossed a season-high 8.0 innings, allowing just one run against the RedHawks. Meanwhile, Tito Montgomery went 2-for-3 and clubbed a two-run triple to help the Norse put together a four-run eighth inning en route to the victory.
SCOUTING UIC: The Flames enter the weekend sporting an 11-16 overall record and 3-2 mark in the Horizon League. UIC split a pair of games against Youngstown State in a snow-shortened series last weekend. Prior to that, the Flames took two of three games against Oakland.
UIC leads the Horizon League in slugging percentage at .418. The team has 56 doubles and 21 home runs across 27 games. Ricardo Ramirez leads the League in slugging percentage (.619) and RBI (30) while David Cronin has a team-best .364 average, good for fourth in the League. The team is batting .276 on the year.
UIC pitchers have a combined 5.77 ERA. The Flames have fanned a League-high 200 batters led by projected Saturday starter Jake Dahlberg with 40 strikeouts across 44.1 innings. Friday starter Connor Ryan has a 1.73 ERA and 24 strikeouts across 26.0 innings pitched. Meanwhile, the Sunday starter, Ian Lewandowski has a team-high 44.2 innings pitched and 5.04 ERA.
FIRST MEETING: The weekend series will serve as the first meeting between the two squads. The Flames are one of two Horizon League foes that the Norse are set to take on for the first time in program history this season. NKU travels to Milwaukee for a series against the Panthers on April 29-May 1 that will serve as the first meeting between the two teams.
SEEING DOUBLE: The Norse are tied with Tennessee, Lehigh and Kent State for 26th nationally in doubles per game at 2.24. NKU has posted a League-best 65 doubles across 29 games. Twelve of Trey Ganns' 30 hits this season have been doubles while Will Haueter and Mike Moffatt are tied with 10 doubles apiece.
PEPPERING THE LEADERBOARD: Reigning Horizon League Batter of the Week, Logan Spurlin, is among the League leaders in numerous offensive categories including second in slugging percentage (.607), third in on-base percentage (.437) and third in RBI (25). The senior has launched a League-best six home runs. Defensively, the catcher has caught 11 runners stealing, good for second in the Horizon League.
STARTING STRONG: NKU starters have combined for 22.2 innings pitched and a 2.34 ERA across the last three games. Tyler Miller, who is expected to start Sunday, tossed 8.0 innings against Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday and allowed one run. Friday starter Justin Watts tossed 7.0 at Wright State and allowed three runs, two earned, followed by Sunday starter Pat Kelley's 7.2-inning outing against the Raiders with four runs. Against League opponents, Watts has a 3.15 ERA after allowing seven earned runs and fanning 18 in 20.0 innings pitched.
UP NEXT: Following the UIC series, NKU will take some time off and return to action next weekend for a three-game set at Youngstown State beginning Friday, April 15 at 5:30 p.m.
