HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky softball is back in action after a short break from its last series over the weekend, hosting Youngstown State on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 23-24. Tuesday will feature a 2 p.m. doubleheader, while Wednesday will be a single game at 2 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.

 
LAST TIME OUT: The Norse fell to Horizon League-leading UIC over the weekend, claiming a 4-2 win in the series opener before the Flames took both games of a Saturday doubleheader. Game two was a high-scoring affair in which the Norse dropped a 17-9 decision, but Ava Lawson had an impressive 3-for-4 outing with all three of her hits being doubles. Lawson now leads the Horizon League with nine doubles in league play and is one away from reaching 14 doubles on the season, which would put her in a tie for sixth on the all-time single-season doubles list.
 
SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN STATE: The Penguins had a bye over the weekend and are coming off a home series loss against Wright State. Youngstown State shut the Raiders out in the opener, 2-0, but WSU had an offensive burst in game two with a 14-6 victory and won the rubber match, 4-2. Despite the setbacks, Youngstown State is still in the running for the regular-season title, sitting in second behind UIC with a 9-4 mark. In league play, the Penguins have four players batting .300 or better, led by Lexi Zappitelli's .378 batting average. Rookie Grace Cea has been impactful at the plate, driving in 16 runs off 15 hits while scoring 11 of her own to lead the team in all three categories. In the circle, Paige Geanangel leads the Horizon League in opponent batting average (.198), while Addy Jarvis ranks second in the league with 57 batters struck out and ranks 24th in the nation with six shutouts on the overall year. YSU's pitching has been a key to its success as the Penguins hold a 2.91 ERA in league action while scoring 4.3 runs per game. The Penguins hold a 6-4 advantage in the all-time series, going 3-1 against the Norse a season ago.