HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team embarks on the 2017 campaign on Friday when it opens a three-game series at Campbell in Buies Creek, North Carolina.

The season opener is set for 4 p.m. on Friday. The series continues with a 3 p.m. first pitch on Saturday and concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Campbell's newly renovated Jim Perry Stadium.

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

Gameday Information
Northern Kentucky Norse (0-0) at Campbell Camels (0-0)
Jim Perry Stadium | Buies Creek, N.C.

Friday, February 17 – 4 p.m.
NKU: Jr. LHP Trey Ganns
Campbell: RJr. RHP Allan Winans

Saturday, Feb. 18 – 3 p.m.
NKU: So. RHP Jordan Menfee
Campbell: RJr. RHP Harry Thomas

Sunday, Feb. 19 – 1 p.m.
NKU: Jr. RHP Pat Kelley
Campbell: So. RHP Michael Horrell
 
2016 REVIEW: The Norse are coming off their first Division I postseason appearance after they advanced to the Horizon League Tournament as a first-year HL member last year. NKU posted its winningest Division I season with a 20-34 overall record including a 9-21 mark in the Horizon League last season. The Norse are now eligible to compete in the NCAA Division I Tournament after being granted official Division I status in August.

2017 ROSTER: Northern Kentucky returns seven starting position players from last season and welcomes 12 newcomers, four of which are true freshmen. The 2017 roster is also bolstered by a strong core of veterans, which includes eight seniors and 10 juniors.

HEAD COACH TODD ASALON: Asalon begins his 17th season at the helm of the program and enters the year just seven wins shy of his 500th at NKU. He has amassed a 493-424-1 record in his 16 seasons at NKU and owns a 637-516-1 record in his 22-year head coaching career. During his tenure, 12 Norse, including nine pitchers have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.

IN THE INFIELD: The Norse have depth and experience in the infield as seniors Brad Bohlen and Kyle Colletta and junior Dominic Mercurio will take to the infield dirt. Colletta will return to second base where he started 37 games last year while Bohlen and Mercurio cover the hot corner. In his first season eligible since transferring from Cincinnati, redshirt junior Jake Richmond will see action at shortstop and will contribute offensively as a top-of-the-order hitter. NKU's top returning hitter, Will Haueter, who posted a .329 batting average and League-best 18 doubles as a redshirt freshman last season, will split time between first base and catcher while the Norse have a handful of newcomers vying for time in the infield.

IN THE OUTFIELD: Similarly, the Norse roster affords depth in the outfield. Mike Moffatt will anchor the outfield at centerfield after splitting time between the outfield and third base last season. Moffatt, a junior, appeared in all but three games in 2016 and batted .264 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 20 RBI. TJ Alas, a graduate transfer from Eastern Kentucky, will start in right field. Alas led EKU with an explosive .378 batting average in 2015. True freshman Preston Pilat is expected to see significant time in left field along with returning senior Conor Ledger.

BEHIND THE PLATE: NKU suffered a key loss at catcher with the conclusion of last season. Logan Spurlin, who consistently led the team in batting average throughout the year, caught a League-leading 23 runners stealing. This season, the Norse will look to Haueter, a 2016 All-Freshman Team honoree, to take over behind the plate along with senior Jake Hickey who appeared in 20 games last season, made 10 starts and was errorless in 80 total chances. True freshman Griffin Green and redshirt freshman Zach Heming will provide back-up.

THE ROTATION: Veteran left-hander Trey Ganns, a two-way player, will start on the mound in the season opener on Friday. The junior led all starters with a 4.21 ERA in 2016 and was an All-Horizon League Second Team selection. The southpaw struck out 45, while walking just 15 in 46.0 innings of work. Jordan Menfee, a sophomore right-hander, will work the mound as Saturday's starter after tossing 16.2 innings as a freshman last season. Pat Kelley returns as the Sunday starter after making 12 appearances including 11 starts last season. The junior posted a 4.97 ERA in his first year with NKU and threw 58.0 innings.

SCOUTING CAMPBELL: The Camels were selected by Perfect Game as the preseason favorite to win the Big South Conference. Campbell finished the 2016 campaign at 26-27 overall and 13-11 in the Big South, just one game out of second place. The squad returns five starting position players including 2015 Big South Player of the Year Cole Hallum.

Campbell returns just one of its top five hitters from last year, Drew Butler, who posted a .301 average and team-high 14 stolen bases last season. In 2016, Campbell posted a .265 team average while opponents batted .272 against Camel pitchers. The 2017 roster includes one returning starter from the weekend rotation in Michael Horrell. Horrell posted a 5-6 record as a freshman last season, tossing 73.2 innings, striking out 43 while walking just 14. The right-hander owned a 3.18 ERA as a member of a staff that posted a 4.87 team ERA.

SERIES HISTORY: The Norse and Camels will face off for the second time in program history. The Norse kicked off the 2015 campaign against the Camels on Feb. 13-15 two years ago. Cambell took the three-game set, two games to one. The Camels defeated NKU, 10-1, in the season opener. The Norse then fell to Campbell, 6-2, in game two and earned a 6-5 series finale victory on Sunday.

UP NEXT: Northern Kentucky makes its longest trek of the season Feb. 23-26 when it travels to Sacramento, California to take on Sacramento State in a four-game set. The series opener between the Norse and Hornets is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 23 at 9:30 p.m. ET.