HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky softball returns home for a midweek nonconference doubleheader against Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday, April 30. First pitch against the RedHawks is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET and both games will be broadcast on ESPN+. The doubleheader is also NKU's Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day with a recognition prior to the national anthem.

LAST TIME OUT: The Norse secured a spot in the Horizon League Tournament this past weekend, claiming the series finale over Detroit Mercy on the road. In the victory, Taylor Ginther became NKU's winningest pitcher in the Division I era as she racked up her 20th career win in the 6-4 victory. The Norse currently sit at fifth in the standings with a 10-10 record, just behind Youngstown State and IUPUI, who are tied for third with a 10-9 record. NKU can finish no lower than sixth as Oakland sits in sixth with a 9-14 mark, but has completed all of its Horizon League competition. The only team that could potentially jump the Norse in the standings is Wright State, which sits just outside the tournament field with an 8-13 record.
 
SCOUTING MIAMI: The RedHawks currently hold the top spot in the Mid-American Conference after handily defeating Ohio in their latest series, riding a seven-game winning streak and holding a 28-14 record. Miami boasts one of the top strikeout pitchers in the nation, with Courtney Vierstra ranking sixth nationally with 10.4 strikeouts per seven innings, helping the team rank 20th nationally with a 3.36 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Brianna Pratt is the second-most utilized hurler on the Miami pitching staff, holding a 3.02 ERA with 90 strikeouts and just 34 walks issued. At the plate, Ashton Slone is batting .369 and slugging .607 to lead the RedHawks in both categories, driving in 29 runs and clubbing 14 doubles on the year. Morgan Lott also adds power behind the plate with 18 extra-base hits on the season, including five triples to rank 18th in the nation. As a team, Miami ranks in the top-100 nationally in doubles, triples and home runs per game. Miami holds a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series with the Norse, with NKU's lone win coming in a 5-3 decision on April 28, 2015.
 
NORSE IN THE RANKINGS: NKU has a handful of student-athletes who are performing among the league's best during the Horizon League slate. Junior center fielder Ava Lawson ranks second with nine doubles, sixth in batting average (.394), eighth in hits (26), ninth in on-base percentage (.459), and is 10th in both runs scored (16) and runs batted in (15).  Sophomore second baseman Josie Frazier has clubbed 25 hits and ranks fourth in the league with seven stolen bases. In the circle, Taylor Ginther has been the most utilized pitcher in the league with 97.0 innings of work, ranks third in wins (6), fourth in batters struck out looking (20) and holds a 2.38 ERA to sit sixth in the league.