HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky softball will travel to Tennessee this weekend as it will play five games across three days in the Tennessee Invitational. The Norse play Illinois State, UT-Martin and invitational host No. 23 Tennessee once, and take on Central Michigan twice.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
Central Michigan University Chippewas (0-0 Overall, 0-0 MAC)
Friday,  Feb. 26 – 10 a.m. (ET) | Sunday, Feb. 28 – 9:30 a.m. (ET)
Knoxville, Tenn. | Sherri Parker Lee Stadium (2,200)
Stats: Live Stats
 
Illinois State University Redbirds (1-2 Overall, 0-0 MVC)
Friday,  Feb. 26 – 3 p.m. (ET)
Knoxville, Tenn. | Sherri Parker Lee Stadium (2,200)
Stats: Live Stats
 
University of Tennessee at Martin Skyhawks (5-0 Overall, 0-0 OVC)
Saturday,  Feb. 27 – 10 a.m. (ET)
Knoxville, Tenn. | Sherri Parker Lee Stadium (2,200)
Stats: Live Stats
 
University of Tennessee Volunteers (8-1 Overall, 0-0 SEC)
Saturday,  Feb. 27 – 12:30 p.m. (ET)
Knoxville, Tenn. | Sherri Parker Lee Stadium (2,200)
Broadcast: SECN+
Stats: Live Stats
 
Quick Hitters
• After having its first weekend canceled due to inclement weather, NKU opens its 2021 season with five games at the Tennessee Invitational.
• NKU is set to face Central Michigan (twice), Illinois State, UT-Martin and Tennessee in the three-day event.
• In the all-time series with each opponent, NKU is 1-1 versus UT-Martin and 0-1 against both Central Michigan and Tennessee. This marks the first-ever meeting between Northern Kentucky and Illinois State.
• Northern Kentucky received 74 votes and were picked to finish third in the #HLSB preseason poll. This comes after NKU went 9-10 in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and went 22-33 with a 12-11 record in league play, good for a fourth-place league finish, in 2019.
• During the 2020 season, Northern Kentucky totaled 19 double plays over the span of 19 games, which ranked 69th nationally and second in the Horizon League.
• The Norse found themselves ranked 77th in earned run average at 2.78. Among Horizon League members, this ranked first.
• The Norse were also ranked 94th nationally and second in the conference with a fielding percentage of .963.
• OF Ava Lawson ended the 2019-2020 season with six home runs, averaging .32 home runs per game, which ranked third in the Horizon League and 54th among all active NCAA players.
• Lawson's 12 career long balls rank 10th in NKU history.
• Lawson also had a slugging percentage of .683 and team-leading 13 RBI's, both of which ranked fifth in the Horizon League.
• P/UTIL Hailey Whitmer had a team-high five multi-hit games during the 2020 season and ended the year on a seven-game hitting streak. She also hit a team-high .360.
• 2B Josie Frazier was in the midst of 10-game hitting and reaching-base streaks when the 2020 campaign came to a close. She was second on the team with a .333 batting average.
• NKU also retains the services of Tatum Biddle and Madi Mulder, who hit .265 and .234, respectively, for the Norse last year.
• Kendyl McKeough, a transfer from Eastern Illinois, had 18 hits on 60 at bats for the Panthers during the 2020 season. She also belted four home runs and 14 RBI's, which ranked second for EIU.
• Along with McKeough, eight newcomers join the Norse this season, including Maddie Lacer, Sydni Barnes, Madisyn Eads, Abby Moffet, Ella LeMonier, Sophie Margelot, Arrington Walker and Megan Lenhart.
 
Last Time Out
The Norse had their first four matches canceled due to inclement weather conditions.
Scouting Central Michigan
Central Michigan is coming off a 6-13 season. The Chippewas, like the Norse, will see their first action this weekend in Knoxville. NKU has faced off with CMU once before in 2014, and lost 12-2.
Scouting Illinois State
The Redbirds are 1-2 this season and have struggled to get games under their belts due to inclement weather. Heading into this weekend's matchup, they are coming off of a loss to Tennessee on Wednesday afternoon. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Scouting UT-Martin
UT-Martin is off to a perfect start at 5-0 after defeating Chattanooga, 10-7, on Wednesday afternoon. The last time the Norse and the Skyhawk's battled it out was during the 2018 season, when they met twice. NKU dropped the first match 4-1, before picking a 5-1 victory the following day.
Scouting Tennessee
The 23^rd-ranked Volunteers are 8-1 on the season and are currently on a three-game win streak. The streak comes after picking up victories over Ohio twice and Illinois State. The Vols last took on the Norse in 2015, and hold a 1-0 advantage over NKU in the all-time series.