HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky softball has altered the schedule for the series with Cleveland State in anticipation of inclement weather. Instead of a single game on Friday, April 21, and a doubleheader on Saturday, April 22, the series will kick off with a Friday doubleheader at 2:30 p.m. ET and conclude with a noon game on Saturday. Friday's doubleheader will be carried on the ESPN3 platform with Brady Laber on the call. Fans can stream the games live on computers, tablets and smart phones through WatchESPN or the ESPN App.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse were unable to slow EKU in a Tuesday nonconference matchup, as the Colonels plated six runs in the sixth inning to run away with a 13-4 win. Junior third baseman Sydney Ferrante drove in all four of NKU's runs with her 11th double and fifth home run of the campaign, marking the fourth time this season that Ferrante had a multi-RBI game.
 
SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE: The Vikings are still searching for their first win in the Horizon League, having lost all 12 games this season against League opponents. Overall, CSU has gone 4-37 with wins over Canisius, Indiana State and Akron (twice), and enter the weekend riding a nine-game losing streak. In their most recent series with Valparaiso, the Vikings took the Crusaders to extra innings in a 4-3 setback, but overall Valpo out-ran CSU 14-6.
  
Statistically, Cleveland State ranks in the bottom third of the Horizon League in nearly every category. The Vikings surrender 6.08 earned runs a game while being held to 1.66, and the team is batting .211 while opponents hold a .345 clip. CSU does boast the toughest player to strike out in the League, as Riley Ries has been struck out just six times in 105 at-bats. Mackenzie Joecken holds the highest batting average for the team at .298 and has driven in a team-high 19 runs. In the circle, Cleveland State has used eight different pitchers in their rotation, most often relying on Alicia Major and Joecken to get the start. Joecken holds the lowest ERA on the squad through 82.2 innings pitched at 4.74, striking out 44 on the season while allowing 106 hits and 69 runs against.
           
The Vikings claimed the series win last season on April 22-23, with NKU taking a 4-3 win in the second game of the set. CSU used a 5-3 win in the opener and a five-inning 11-0 shutout in the finale.