HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University baseball team travels to Alabama this weekend for a three-game series. The series begins on Friday, March 8 at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT. All of the games will be broadcast on the SEC Network +, and live audio and stats will also be available.  
 
Northern Kentucky at Alabama
Friday, March 8 – 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Saturday, March 9 – 3:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Watch | Listen | Live Stats
Sunday, March 10 – 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. CT – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Watch | Listen | Live Stats
 
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first meeting between the two schools.
 
TAKING A LOOK AT THE NORSE
The Norse are 1-8 on the year. NKU split a doubleheader with VMI last weekend. VMI won the first game by a score of 8-3, and the Norse picked up a win in game two by a final score of 7-6. In the second game, Will Haueter went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, two runs and an RBI. Griffin Doersching added a three-run homer, and Jayden Wakeham was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
 
A pair of freshmen lead the team in batting average. Griffin Kain is hitting at a .368 clip with three runs scored, two RBI, and a double. Noah Fisher is batting for a .323 average on the season. He has three runs, two RBI, two doubles and a home run.
 
Doersching leads the team and is tied for second in the Horizon League with nine RBI. Haueter ranks fifth in the NKU record books with 47 doubles. He needs 11 more to tie Evan McDole (2007-10) for first on the all-time list.
 
This will be the third time that NKU has faced an SEC opponent this season. The Norse played Tennessee and Kentucky earlier in the year.
 
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Alabama is 12-2 on the year. The team has won eight-straight games and is 9-2 at home. The Crimson Tide most recently picked up a pair of midweek wins against South Dakota State and UAB.
 
As a team, Alabama is hitting at a .294 clip this season. The Crimson Tide has six hitters batting over .300. Kolby Robinson has had a strong start to the season. He leads the team with a .465 batting average. Robinson has also contributed nine RBI, six runs scored and two doubles. Keith Holcombe is batting at a .381 clip with 16 RBI, seven runs scored, five doubles, a triple, and two home runs.
 
On the mound, Alabama sports a 2.27 team ERA. The Norse are likely to see Sam Finnerty and Brock Love on the mound this weekend, with a starter to be determined for Sunday's game. Finnerty is 3-0 on the year in three starts. He has a 2.50 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched. Love has made four appearances this year, including two starts. He has a 1-0 record and hasn't allowed an earned run in 11.1 innings pitched.
 
BOBBY FONG AWARD
The NKU baseball team was named the recipient of the Horizon League's Bobby Fong Award in 2018. The award encompasses the league's values of integrity, respect and stewardship and is presented to one current Horizon League student-athlete or team. The award is named for the late Dr. Bobby Fong, a former Butler University president who served on the Horizon League Board of Directors from 2001-2011. The NKU baseball team has historically been the leader of the athletic department in the area of community service and impact. The team participates in a number of volunteer opportunities throughout the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati areas.
 
UP NEXT
The Norse are scheduled to play their first home game of the season against Miami (Ohio) on Wednesday, March 13. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Bill Aker Baseball Complex, and live stats will be available.