HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team will travel to Louisiana Monroe for a series this weekend. The series begins on Friday, Feb. 23, with a doubleheader scheduled for 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT. The rest of the weekend's games will be determined based upon weather conditions. 
 
Northern Kentucky vs. Louisiana Monroe
Friday, Feb. 23 – 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT (DH)  Broadcast (2nd game)
Saturday, Feb. 24 – TBD                Live Stats | Live Video | Tickets
Sunday, Feb. 25 – TBD                  Live Stats | Live Video | Tickets
 
Last time out
The Norse opened the 2018 season at East Tennessee State last weekend. The teams were originally scheduled to play four games, but only played three due to inclement weather on that Saturday. ETSU won the season opener for both teams by a final score of 6-2. Will Haueter hit a solo home run for the Norse in the top of the ninth inning.
 
In the second game of the series, which took place on Sunday, Jake Richmond led off the game with a solo home run to left field. Richmond also scored on a RBI single by Haueter in the third inning, but the Norse fell by a score of 7-2.
 
NKU won the final game of the series by a score of 5-4. Sam Williams got the start on the mound for the Norse, and he struck out five batters in three innings. Brody Basilone came out of the bullpen in the fourth inning. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowing just one hit to earn the win on the mound. Cameron Ross pitched the final 2.2 innings, and he got his first save of the season.
 
Haueter went 4-for-5 in the game with a RBI, and Brendan Alas was 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run. One of his hits was a solo home run to right center. Mike Moffatt added two hits and a run. In their collegiate debuts, Andrew Bacon went 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Collin Hohman was 3-for-4 with a run and RBI.

Scouting Louisiana Monroe
Louisiana Monroe is 3-1 to begin the season. The Warhawks went 2-1 in their series with Eastern Illinois last weekend, and picked up another win over Northwestern State on Tuesday. ULM has three players batting over .360 in the early part of the season. Brendan Jordan and Peyton Lacoste each have a .375 batting average. Jordan has six hits, three runs and three RBI in four starts this season. Lacoste has also started all four games, and he has six hits, two runs, a homer, and seven RBI. Johnny DeLaCruze is hitting .364 on the season in four games. He has four hits, three runs, two doubles and a RBI.
 
On the mound, ULM has used four starting pitchers. Justin Olaughlin, Chase Beal, Kyle Backofen, and Trey Jeans have all made a start on the mound for the War Hawks this season. Derek Martin has made two appearances out of the bullpen, pitching 3.0 innings, while allowing just one hit.
 
Head Coach Todd Asalon
NKU head coach Todd Asalon is in his 18^th season at the helm of the Norse baseball program. He has a 519-459-1 record at NKU and a 663-551-1 overall record.
 
 
Taking a look at the stats
Hauter leads NKU among qualified players with a .500 batting average. He has six hits in 12 at bats, with a double, home run, run scored, and three RBI. Dominic Mercurio is batting .333 with three hits and a run scored. Pat Kelley, Sam Williams, and Nick Beard have all made a start on the mound for the Norse. Kyle Service pitched two innings out of the bullpen last weekend, and he only allowed one hit. Ross leads the team with 4.2 innings pitched, and he has given up just one run and one hit.
 
 
For more information on the NKU baseball program, follow the team on Facebook @NKUNorseBSB and Twitter @nkunorsebsb.