HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky softball is back on the diamond when it heads to Conway, South Carolina, for the Coastal Carolina Invitational. The trip is part of a two-week spring break stint in the Palmetto State, which will conclude with the Holy City Showdown, March 10-12. This weekend, the Norse will take on North Dakota on Friday, March 3 at 5 p.m. ET for the first game of the tournament. Saturday will pit NKU against UConn at 10 a.m. and North Dakota once more at 12:30 p.m. The Norse then play UConn to start off Sunday's competition at noon before a 2:30 p.m. tilt with host Coastal Carolina.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse traveled to Athens, Georgia, to kick off the 2017 season at the Georgia Classic on Feb. 17-19. Though the squad was unable to pick up a win against some staunch competition versus Dayton, Louisiana-Monroe and then-No. 12/10 Georgia, the Norse walked away as the only team to play a full game against the Bulldogs as both Dayton and ULM played either five or six innings. The Norse had a number of freshmen making their career debuts, including strong outings at the dish from Ava Lawson and Toree Stalter with a pair of runs batted in each. Rookie hurler Taylor Ginther also appeared in two games, posting the fewest earned runs against of the pitching corps in the opening weekend with a 3.00 ERA in 6.0 innings.
 
SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA: The Fighting Hawks sit at 7-8 on the season, most recently going 1-3 at the Tiger Invitational hosted by No. 3/2 Auburn. UND suffered a pair of 8-0 six-inning losses to both Auburn and No. 13/12 James Madison, but ended with a 2-1 win over Yale. Junior outfielder Taylor Nadler has been the most productive for the Fighting Hawks, hitting .333 with a team-high 13 hits and eight runs while also driving in nine runs. In the circle, North Dakota has relied primarily on juniors Kaylin VanDomelen and Hannah Berg, who have pitched 39.0 and 36.1 innings for the Fighting Hawks. VanDomelen boasts a 1.62 ERA with 37 strikeouts on the season, but Bergh has picked up more wins for UND with five of the team's seven victories. NKU has met North Dakota on the field just once, claiming a 12-2 win on March 15, 2001, when both programs were still competing in Division II.
 
SCOUTING UCONN: NKU has not squared off with UConn in program history prior to the 2017 season. The Huskies have seen limited action after their season-opening tournament at FGCU was cancelled, and have posted a 3-5 record in 2017 throughout the pair of tournaments played. Most recently UConn went 1-3 at the FAU Tournament, with notable outings against No. 21/19 Kentucky and RV/RV Arkansas. The Wildcats claimed a 4-2 win to start things off at the tournament, and UConn closed out action with an eight-inning 3-2 setback to the Razorbacks. Senior infielder Valerie Sadowl and senior utility Taylor Townsend hold the highest batting averages for the team, both at a .444 clip with Sadowl pacing the team with 12 runs and nine RBI while Townsend has plated a team-best five runs. The Huskies have used five pitchers in their eight games, with sophomore Jill Stockley and freshman Katie Koshes spending the most time in the circle. Both hold an ERA under 1.50, with Koshes leading the pitchers with 16 strikeouts in six appearances.
 
SCOUTING COASTAL CAROLINA: Sunday marks the first meeting in program history between NKU and Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers have had the leisure of playing at home for their first 15 contests, posting a 12-3 record throughout three tournaments hosted.  Two of CCU's losses came against No. 9/11 Alabama, and the team has also hosted a Horizon League member with a pair of shutouts over Cleveland State in its most recent tournament, including a 12-0 five-inning victory on Feb. 25. The Chanticleers boast a high-powered offense, with four players already in double digits in runs led by junior outfielder Timi Tooley with 14, along with 15 RBI while hitting at a .405 clip. Also producing well for CCU is junior outfielder Kailey Mellen, who is hitting .412 and has driven in 17 runs. Taylor Rahach has pitched 43.2 innings for the Chanticleers, boasting a 1.28 ERA with 46 strikeouts, helping the sophomore post three shutouts on the year.