HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky baseball heads to Nashville this weekend for two games apiece against Belmont and Lipscomb. Because of inclement weather in the forecast, the games against Belmont, originally scheduled for Friday and Sunday, will now be in seven-inning doubleheader fashion on Friday evening. Game two of the Lipscomb doubleheader will also be a seven-inning game.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY at BELMONT
Friday, February 26 (DH) – Nashville, Tenn. – 4:00 p.m. – Live Stats, Live Stats Game 2, Radio, Radio Game 2
NORTHERN KENTUCKY at LIPSCOMB
Saturday, February 27 (DH) – Nashville, Tenn. – 12:00 p.m. – Live Stats, Live Stats Game 2
 
SERIES HISTORY
Belmont leads the series over NKU, 1-0, with the only matchup being a 10-8 win for the Bruins in 1987. Lipscomb, a former Atlantic Sun foe, also leads its series with NKU, 11-2. The Bisons defeated the Norse in the last matchup, 12-4, on March 4, 2018.  

LAST TIME OUT
Although they lost the series 2-1, NKU snapped a 21-game skid dating back to the 2019 season at ETSU in game two of a doubleheader on Sunday. Solid pitching from Nick Noble held the Buccaneers in check as the Norse raked in four runs during the fourth inning. Noah Fisher had the game-winning hit, smacking a triple to bring home two runners. Tyler Ollier was credited with the save in the game after 3.1 innings of relief.

SCOUTING BELMONT
The Bruins are 1-0 thus far on the season after a 5-1 victory over North Alabama on Tuesday. They return three batters that were over the .300 threshold: Infielder Logan Jarvis (.371), catcher Jackson Campbell (.339) and outfielder John Behrends (.306). All but one player that saw impactful time on the mound also remain with the Bruins this season. Right-hander Logan Bowen, who picked up the win over North Alabama and will pitch in game one on Friday, finished last season with a 2.31 ERA. The Norse will see RHP Aaron Hubbell (2020: 2-1, 3.32 ERA) in game two.

SCOUTING LIPSCOMB
The Bisons are 2-1 on the young year after sweeping Murray State in a doubleheader on Monday and falling to Memphis, 3-1, on Tuesday. Senior Haddon Adams has a .417/.667/.462 slash line through three games with a pair of extra-base hits. Three other Bisons are batting .300 or higher. In terms of pitching, NKU will face off against southpaw Max Habegger (2020: 2-0, 1.80 ERA) in game one, followed by redshirt-freshman Ike Buxton, a righty on the mound. Buxton appeared in four games in relief for Boise State in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic shortened the season.

PROBABLES 
In game one at Belmont, Ben Gerl (0-1, 10.80 ERA) will look to improve on his first-ever start for the Norse, where he appeared more settled in during his final two innings of work. Fellow freshman, Tyson Shaw (0-1, 5.40 ERA), will round out the doubleheader. On the next day at Lipscomb, Nick Noble (1-0, 3.60 ERA) will throw in hopes of his second career win as a Norse and Kyle Klingenbeck (0-0, 2.84 ERA) will finish up the weekend in game two.

NOTHING TASTES BETTER THAN BACON
Andrew Bacon came alive in the 2020 season, ending it on a 13-game hitting streak. The senior carried a .303/.470/.342 slash line, smashed out a Horizon League-leading three home runs, and batted in 15 runners, which also led the league.  
HOME-RUN KING
NKU returns the 2019 College Home Run Derby Champion for his senior season. Griffin Doersching, a junior, took the 10th annual prize in Omaha, Nebraska, after clubbing 20 home runs to Tyler Keenan's (Ole Miss) 15 in the final round. In the 2019 season, Doersching smacked 13 out of the park, had a .503 slugging percentage and drove in 44 runs. At 28 career home runs, he is one away from being the sole owner of second for NKU all-time.  

TIMES NEW ROMANS
Josh Romans has impressed in his debut for the Norse. The freshman shortstop picked up the start in NKU's season-opener at ETSU on Friday, going 1-for-3 with a double down the left-field line and a walk. A day later, he proved the early success wasn't a fluke, sending a solo-shot out of the park in the third inning.

LONG TIME, NEVER SEEN
After missing his freshman year to injury, Klingenbeck made his Norse debut on Saturday at ETSU in game one of a doubleheader and it was worth the wait. The sophomore tossed a quality start, going 6.1 innings and yielding two runs on the afternoon, which kept the Norse in the hunt for their first win of the season.
 
NEW YEAR, NEW NORSE
In total, 10 players joined the Norse over the offseason, ranging from freshmen to junior college standouts: Camden Brandt, AJ Clegg, Gerl, Lucas Gulczynski, Michael Hall, Liam McFadden-Ackman, Josh Romans, Shaw, Bryce Smith and Bryce Thomas.
 
TWO DECADES AND COUNTING
Head Coach Todd Asalon is in his 21st season at NKU, owning a 548-557-1 record with the Norse. He guided the Norse through its Division I transition, which began in the 2013 season, and helped NKU post its winningest Division I season in 2017 with a 25-33 record. Prior to the Division I era, he led NKU to the NCAA Division II tournament in eight-consecutive seasons.

Joining Asalon on his staff are his assistants and former Norse Dizzy Peyton (14th season) and Pat Hyde (sixth season). Accompanying them is Matthew James, who is in his second season with NKU.