HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. -- The Northern Kentucky University baseball team opens up the postseason on Wednesday, May 24, earning the No. 3 seed to match up with No. 6-seed Milwaukee. The Norse will take on the Panthers at 4 p.m. CT/5 p.m. ET in Chicago in an elimination game. The winner will move on to the double-elimination field, with NKU facing Wright State on Thursday in the event of a win.
 
All games of the 2017 Horizon League Championship will be carried live on ESPN3 with streaming available on computers, tablets and smart phones through WatchESPN and the ESPN App.
 
More information on the Horizon League Championship, including the full bracket, directions, and ticket information can be found on the Championship Central page. Single day and all-session passes are available. Students from League institutions are admitted free with a valid college ID.
 
Gameday Information
No. 3 Northern Kentucky Norse (24-31, 17-13 HL)
vs. No. 6 Milwaukee (22-31, 10-18 HL)
Granderson Stadium | Chicago

Wednesday, May 24 – 4 p.m. CT/5 p.m. ET
NKU: RSr. RHP Jean-Francois Dionne
UWM: Sr. RHP Jay Peters
 
TOURNEY TIME: NKU locked down the No. 3 seed for the Horizon League Championship with its first two wins over Oakland last weekend, and will play No. 6 seed Milwaukee in the first round on Wednesday. UIC clinched the regular season title and tournament hosting rights, while Wright State earned the No. 2 seed. On the other side of the bracket, No. 4 seed Valparaiso and No. 5 Oakland will square off in the first round.
 
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SCOUTING MILWAUKEE:  While the Norse ended their Horizon League slate on a seven-game winning streak following a pair of setbacks to Milwaukee, the Panthers dropped the remainder of their contests to finish 22-31 overall and 10-18 in the League. Milwaukee will start its top pitcher on Wednesday, as All-HL First Team honoree Jay Peters posted a League-best 2.08 ERA with 53 strikeouts against League opponents. At the plate, catcher Daulton Varsho is one of three Panthers batting above .300 with a .366 clip while slugging .655, leading the teams in hits (71) to go with 39 RBI. Varsho also earned all-league honors, landing on the second team along with shortstop Trevor Schwecke while 3B Ben Chally landed on the first team.
 
As a team, Milwaukee is batting .274 and holds a 4.28 ERA, holding opponents to .256. The Panthers' pitching and defense has paved the way for victories, with UWM ranking 32nd in the nation in shutouts (5) and 70th in hits allowed per nine innings (8.78).
 
 
SERIES HISTORY:  Milwaukee holds the 6-4 advantage over NKU in the all-time series, with each team going undefeated against the other on their home turf. When the Norse hosted the Panthers in the Horizon League opener on March 18-19, NKU downed UWM 13-9, 7-4 and 6-5 before suffering a doubleheader setback on May 7. The Panthers shut out the Norse in the front end of the day, 15-0, and followed it up with an 8-1 win.
 
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: The 2017 tournament marks the second for the Norse in the Horizon League postseason. Last year, NKU earned the No. 6 seed and squared off with No. 3 Valparaiso in the first round. The Crusaders bounced the Norse to advance, 10-7.