HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky baseball (8-11, 6-6 Horizon League) is up and running again after a one-week break from action. The Norse are set to take on Purdue Fort Wayne (7-12, 4-8 Horizon League) in a pair of road doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.  
  
NORTHERN KENTUCKY at PURDUE FORT WAYNE 
Friday, April 2 (DH) – Fort Wayne, Ind. – 12:00 p.m. – Live Stats 
Saturday, April 3 (DH) – Fort Wayne, Ind. – 11:30 a.m. – Live Stats 
 
SERIES HISTORY  
NKU is out in front in the series, 14-8. This will be the first meeting between the Norse and the Mastodons since May 6, 2001, where Purdue Fort Wayne won, 8-1.  
  
LAST TIME OUT  
Northern Kentucky has now won six of its last eight games after taking a series from Milwaukee, 3-1, two weeks ago. The story for the Norse was its starting pitching in the first three games, where Ben Gerl, Kyle Klingenbeck and Noah Richardson each received winning quality-starts. The three pitchers combined went for 21 innings, giving up just four runs on 10 hits and four walks, while fanning 26 batters. Klingenbeck's start was also noteworthy for being his second-straight complete-game performance, while he was also one out away from the first shoutout by a Norse pitcher since 2011.  
  
SCOUTING PURDUE FORT WAYNE 
The Mastodons head into the matchup after being swept by Milwaukee in a four-game series last weekend. On a team with a .234 average this season, Jack Lang is PFW's best hitter, raking at a .338 rate that has plated 10 runners on the year. Although Zac Baden doesn't meet the two PA/G and 75 percent of games played threshold, he's also been dangerous at the dish, landing hits at a .355 clip. In order, the Mastodons' starting pitchers this weekend will be LHP Justin Miller (3-2, 3.76 ERA), LHP Jacob Myer (3-1, 2.60 ERA), RHP Cameron Boyd (0-4, 4.18 ERA) and Gerald Pintarich (0-1, 9.24 ERA), respectively.   
  
PROBABLES  
Gerl (1-2, 5.22 ERA) remains the first starter for NKU. Richardson (1-0, 4.60 ERA) will follow the freshman off the heels of his best game yet as a Norse in game two. Klingenbeck (2-2, 5.08 ERA) will try to make it three-complete games in a row in the seven-inning game three and Bryson Lonsbury (0-1, 17.47 ERA) will wrap up the series in the final game on Saturday.  
  
HOME-RUN KING  
NKU returns the 2019 College Home Run Derby Champion for his senior season. Doersching, 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 .302/.667/.450 slash line and six home-runs. Teams have been so afraid of his power, that he's been intentionally walked four times in the last 10 games. At 33 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 .302 clip and an even better .400 rate with runners in scoring position. His 12 RBIs on the year lead the Norse and he is also tied for the most multiple-hit games for NKU this season. 
  
ONE-TWO PUNCH 
The Norse arguably have their best game one and game two starting-pitcher combination in the Division I era this season. Although Gerl is just 1-2 on the year, he's gone at least five innings on the mound in each game, dished 7.2 strikeouts an appearance, and has yielded more than four runs just once. Klingenbeck has been just as lethal, pitching two complete games and allowing two runs or less on three occasions.  
 
BILLY THE KID
Marion, a sixth-year senior, is having the best season of his career, compiling a .302/.512/.444 slash line. Coming into this season, the mustachioed outfielder had just one home run in his career, but this season he's already up to three, with two coming in the last three games. Marion also currently has eight RBIs and is on a streak of 10-straight games of reaching base.  
  
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 .214 with eight RBIs and 12 runs scored after a slow start to this season. 
 
NEW YEAR, NEW NORSE  
In total, 10 players joined the Norse over the offseason: Camden Brandt, AJ Clegg, Gerl, Lucas Gulczynski, Michael 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 555-566-1 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.