HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky softball will play a single tune-up game in between tournaments, facing UMass Lowell on Tuesday, March 12. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. PT/3 ET from Santa Clara, California.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse went 1-4 at the Silicon Valley Classic II, defeating Cal State Northridge before falling to UC Davis, Cal State Fullerton, Nevada and Santa Clara. NKU had a comeback victory over the Matadors, trailing 3-1 before plating three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 4-3 win. Zahrya McFarland went 3-for-3 from the plate and drove in two runs, while Toree Stalter was 1-for-2 with two runs scored. Hailey Whitmer picked up her first collegiate win, pitching 2.0 innings with two batters struck out and no hits surrendered.
 
 
SCOUTING UMASS LOWELL: The River Hawks sit at 6-8 this season, most recently going 2-2 at the Cardinal Classic with the two setbacks being a pair of one-run losses to No. 22 Stanford. Courtney Cashman and Sydney Barker lead UMass Lowell at the plate as both are batting above .440 and slugging above .700. Barker has 10 RBI and seven runs scored, while Cashman has driven in eight runs and also scored eight of her own. The team relies heavily on Lovina Capria and Kaysee Talcik in the circle. Capria holds a 2.20 ERA and a 4-4 record in 47.2 innings pitched, striking out 28 batters and walking 14. Talcik is 2-3 on the season with a 3.41 ERA, fanning 12 batters and walking 14. The Norse and the River Hawks last squared off on March 10, 2016, when the Norse claimed an 8-6 victory at the Holy City Showdown in Charleston, South Carolina.