HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky's softball team begins its 2022 campaign this weekend at the Blue Hose Invitational in Clinton, S.C., where it will play five games in three days.
 
The Norse face Tennessee Tech at 10 a.m. Friday, followed by a 2:30 p.m. clash against host Presbyterian. NKU has two games Saturday – at noon against South Carolina State and at 2:30 against Tennessee Tech – before facing Presbyterian again at 10 a.m. Sunday.
 
NKU will compete in four tournaments to start the season. After the Blue Hose Invitational, it's on to the Upstate Classic in Spartanburg, S.C., the Duke Invitational in Durham, N.C. and the Coach B Classic in Carbondale, Ill.
 
NKU's first home game is March 11 against Oakland at Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field.
 
2021 IN REVIEW: The Norse went 14-24 overall and 13-17 in the Horizon League and finished sixth in the conference standings. NKU finished the season with a pair of home double-headers against Youngstown State and pinned two losses on the Horizon League regular-season champions.
 
Four Norse players were honored with All-League distinctions: former standout Ava Lawson and returnees Ella LeMonier, Kendyl McKeough and Madisyn Eads. LeMonier was named to the Second Team and All-Freshman Team, McKeough was tabbed for the Second Team and Eads joined LeMonier on the All-Freshman Team.
 
PRESEASON POLL: League coaches picked NKU sixth among 10 teams in the Horizon League preseason poll with 39 votes. Oakland was chosen as the team to beat, followed by Youngstown State, UIC, Robert Morris and Green Bay. NKU was followed by IUPUI, Detroit Mercy, Cleveland State and Purdue Fort Wayne. Oakland garnered 82 votes including two first-place votes. Youngstown State wasn't far behind with 81 votes including five for first place.
 
2022 NORSE: The newest edition of the Norse can be characterized by its youthfulness, energy, passion and chemistry. Fifth-year player and versatile infielder Kendyl McKeough (.308 batting average, 32 hits, seven home runs, five doubles, 26 RBI) leads a core of returnees in Tatum Biddle (short stop), Ella LeMonier (right field), Megan Lenhart (left field), Jenna O'Hair (center field), Maddie Lacer (catcher) and Jordan Jenkins (first base).
 
Newcomers include junior Hannah Colbert, a right-handed pitcher who played previously at John Logan College, and freshmen Alicia Flores, Megan Kincer, Charly Koehler, Olivia Pastin and Trinity Robinson.
 
NKU has depth in the circle with five pitchers, led by sophomore Madisyn Eads (2.31 ERA, 6-3, 40 Ks). Lauryn Hicks is angling to come back strong after an injury-plagued 2021 season. Last season she had a 3.86 ERA, a 5-9 record and 80 strikeouts.
 
SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH: The Golden Eagles went 19-30 (13-20 Ohio Valley) last season and have since added eight newcomers to the roster. Tennessee Tech returns its top hitter in Nicolle Nysted, who had a .340 average with 23 RBI, eight home runs and 14 runs scored despite missing nine games late in the season due to injury. Pitcher Alyssa Arden had a 3.38 ERA, an 8-12 record and 66 strikeouts. Arden also batted .232 with 12 runs scored, 13 RBI, two home runs and six doubles.
 
SCOUTING PRESBYTERIAN: The Blue Hose posted a 15-19 record (7-14 Big South) in 2021. Senior Jaiden Tweed is back after batting .225 with 13 RBI with a double and five home runs. Rebecca Clark reprises her role following a campaign in which she batted .289 with four doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored. Pitchers Haley Haselden (2.40 ERA, 7-9, 91 Ks) and Jenna Greene (3.10, 8-9, 116 Ks) also are back.
 
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA STATE: The Bulldogs were picked to finish last in the Mid-Eastern Athletic based on a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The team last season went 4-24 (3-14 MEAC) but returns preseason Second Team selection Deasia Lowther. She led the team in hitting (.304) and had 11 RBI and four home runs last season. She also was 3-13 in the circle with 36 strikeouts.