HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky baseball (5-10, 3-5 Horizon League) finishes its eight-game homestand with a four-game set against Milwaukee (2-9, 2-2 Horizon League) this weekend.   
 
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. MILWAUKEE 
Friday, March 19 – Highland Heights, Ky. – 12:00 p.m. – Live Stats – ESPN+ 
Saturday, March 20 (DH) – Highland Heights, Ky. – 12:00 p.m. – Live Stats – ESPN+  -- ESPN+ Game Two
Sunday, March 21 – Highland Heights, Ky. – 12:00 p.m. – Live Stats – ESPN+ 
 
Northern Kentucky Athletics is unable to accommodate general admission attendance. Only home pass-list supporters are allowed in attendance. 
 
SERIES HISTORY 
Milwaukee is currently in front in the series, 18-7. The Panthers won the last matchup, 9-1, on May 23, 2019, to eliminate the Norse from the Horizon League Tournament.  
 
LAST TIME OUT 
Northern Kentucky took its first series win over Oakland last weekend, winning three games to one. Oakland took game one, 9-6, despite a fantastic seven-inning, one-run performance on the mound by Ben Gerl. NKU swept the doubleheader on the next day, taking a 2-1 victory thanks to a complete game by Kyle Klingenbeck, as well as a 15-12 game that saw the Norse come back from a six-run deficit. Finally, NKU drubbed the Golden Grizzlies, 18-5, on Sunday. Michael Hall was the star of the weekend, going 6-for-9 (.667) at the plate, which included a three-RBI double in game two of the Saturday doubleheader, as well as the walk that represented the tying run.  
 
SCOUTING MILWAUKEE 
The Panthers are 2-9 on the year, getting their first couple of wins this season at UIC in 3-0 and 5-4 results, respectively. Overall as a team, Milwaukee is batting .232 this season, but they do have Luke Seidel an impressive slash line of .389/.667/.421. Zach Nogalski will be one to watch, appearing in his first four games this season at UIC, going .333 at the plate with an extra-base hit and bringing in three RBIs. LHP Riley Frey (0-2, 2.25 ERA) will have the Friday start for the Panthers, while RHP Mike Edwards (0-3, 3.95 ERA) and LHP Jack Mahoney (1-2, 7.63 ERA) will start game one and game two of the doubleheader, respectively. Sunday's start is still to be announced.  
 
PROBABLES 
Gerl (0-2, 6.04 ERA) remains the Friday starter for NKU and is still looking for his first win. Klingenbeck (1-2, 6.33) will aim for another solid outing in game one Saturday's doubleheader and Noah Richardson (0-0, 7.27 ERA) will be on the bump in game two. Sunday's starter is yet to be announced.  
 
HOME-RUN KING 
NKU returns the 2019 College Home Run Derby Champion for his senior season. 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. He has been a machine this season, carrying a .313/.708/.476 slash line and a Horizon League-leading five home-runs. Teams have been so afraid of his power, that he's been intentionally walked four times in the last six games. At 32 career home runs, he is the sole owner of second in the all-time record books and is chasing John Heeter's 48.   
 
MOSS GROWS ON THE SIDE FACING HOME 
After a solid freshman season that saw him hit .297, outfielder Treyvin Moss picked up where he left off a season ago. He currently bats at a .298 clip and an even better .400 rate with runners in scoring position. His eight RBIs on the year are second to just Doersching (9) on this year's team. 
 
KLINGENBECK'S LONG-AWAITED DEBUT 
After missing his freshman year to injury, Klingenbeck made his Norse debut on Feb. 21 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 a win. The righty picked up his first win this past weekend with a seven-inning, complete-game performance where he gave up just one run.  
 
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. He is currently hitting .234 with seven RBIs and 11 runs scored.

NEW YEAR, NEW NORSE 
In total, 10 players joined the Norse over the offseason: Camden Brandt, AJ Clegg, Gerl, Lucas Gulczynski, Hall, Liam McFadden-Ackman, Josh Romans, Tyson Shaw, Bryce Smith and Bryce Thomas.  
 
ONE FINAL RIDE 
On Feb. 26, head coach Todd Asalon announced that the 2021 season will be his last as he is retiring at season's end. Now in his 21st year with the Norse, Asalon owns a 552-567-1 record. 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.