HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky softball is back at home to host Horizon League favorite UIC on Friday and Saturday, April 13-14. Due to anticipated weather forecasts, the series schedule will be altered slightly with a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Friday before a series finale at 1 p.m. on Saturday. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Brady Laber on the call. Streaming is available on computers, tablets, smart phones and streaming devices through WatchESPN and the ESPN App.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The two top scoring teams in the Horizon League went head-to-head when the Norse visited Youngstown State on April 10-11, but the opening doubleheader was much more defense oriented as each team took a 2-1 win. Sydney Ferrante clubbed a two-run homer in the first inning of game two to give the Norse an early advantage. Wednesday's rubber match saw the Norse plate three runs in the opening frame, but Youngstown State answered back with six runs to take the lead and eventually claimed a 9-5 win over the Norse.
 
SEASON NOTABLES: NKU finds itself among the Horizon League's top statistics in several categories. The Norse lead the League in ERA (3.39) and batting average (.287), while ranking second in scoring (4.10 runs per game), and slugging percentage (.360). Individually, Sydney Ferrante leads the League and is No. 73 nationally with .93 RBI per game and tops in the nation with seven sacrifice flies. Her .418 batting average is the second-highest in the Horizon League and No. 42 nationally, while her .690 slugging percentage is third in the League.
 
SCOUTING UIC: The Flames started the Horizon League slate at 3-3 after dropping a series with Oakland, but stormed back to claim the highest spot atop League standings after sweeping IUPUI at home. UIC capped off the series with a dominant five-inning shutout of the Jaguars, 11-0. UIC's defense has been stellar this season as the Flames have the top fielding percentage (.969) and turn the most double plays per game (.41) in the Horizon League, both of which also rank No. 48 nationally. The Flames average 3.84 runs per game and give up 3.57 earned runs a contest.
           
At the plate, Lexi Watts paces the Flames with a .412 batting average, recording 42 hits this season. Once reaching base, Watts is also a threat on the base path as she leads the Horizon League and ranks 20th nationally with .69 stolen bases per game. Skylee James is tied with NKU's Sydney Ferrante for the most RBI per game among Horizon League players, and she also leads the League with .34 doubles per game. In the circle, Marley Hanlon holds the lowest ERA in the Horizon League at 2.13 and walks the fewest batters per seven innings (1.52), but it is Allie Trudeau and Karissa Frazier who have spent the most time pitching for the Flames. Trudeau has picked up seven wins for the Flames in 14 starts, with 57 strikeouts through 80.1 innings pitched. Frazier is not far off in wins, with six in 10 starts, and she has fanned 43 batters in 69.2 innings of work.