HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky softball closes out the regular season this weekend when the team hosts Detroit Mercy on Friday and Saturday, May 4-5. The series begins with a 4 p.m. single game on Friday and concludes with a noon doubleheader on Saturday. Prior to Saturday's contests, NKU will honor its senior class of
Kate Bartolovich,
Taylor Brummell,
Sydney Ferrante,
Alina Maher,
Ashley Rains and
Ashlynn Roberts. Friday will also be Pups at the Park, where fans can stop by the marketing table for a free pup-approved treat, and Saturday will serve as NKU's Strike Out Cancer games with a variety of activities for fans.
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse picked up their third series win of the season with a 2-1 road win over Cleveland State. NKU took the first two, 4-2 and 3-2, before the Vikings claimed the series finale, 5-1.
Hailey Whitmer helped propel NKU to the opening day win with her first career home run, a two-run round-tripper in the sixth to give NKU the lead over the Vikings.
Taylor Brummell shone on the second day, batting .500 with two runs scored and a run batted in between the final two contests.
ACADEMIC ACCOLADES: The Horizon League announced on Wednesday, May 2, that senior shortstop
Taylor Brummell was named to the Horizon League All-Academic Team. Brummell is the first softball player to earn all-academic distinction since the Norse transitioned to Division I, boasting a 3.741 grade point average as a history major.
SEASON NOTABLES: NKU finds itself among the Horizon League's top statistics in several categories. The Norse rank third in the League in batting average (.280), while ranking fourth in scoring (3.80 runs per game) and slugging percentage (.360). Individually,
Sydney Ferrante ranks second in the League with .83 RBI per game and tops the nation with seven sacrifice flies. Her .374 batting average and .585 slugging percentage both rank fifth in the League. Since entering League play,
Ava Lawson has stepped up to lead the Norse in batting average (.382), slugging percentage (.673), RBI (17) and home runs (4), ranking in the top-five of Horizon League players in those categories.
SCOUTING DETROIT MERCY: Like the Norse, the Titans are jockeying for a berth into the Horizon League Championship, sitting at 8-10 in League play and currently hold the fifth spot in the standings. Savvy Ferstle, who is the lone senior on the young team, leads the Titans at the plate with a .339 batting average and a .554 slugging percentage in League play. Jordan Manno has also been a contributor at the plate with 13 RBI and 13 runs scored against Horizon opponents, leading the team in both categories. Ashley Mauser has been the Titans' ace in the circle, with 90 strikeouts in 74.2 innings of work to hold a 2.44 ERA and a 7-8 record. Liz Murphy also spends time in the circle with a 5.31 ERA through 31.2 innings pitched.
