INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – As the Horizon League race heats up, Northern Kentucky softball heads to IUPUI for a three-game series within a stretch of seven straight road contests.
 
The Norse, recent series victors at Youngstown State, have won three of their last four games. 
 
NKU and IUPUI open their series at the IUPUI Softball Complex, Friday at 3 p.m. The teams return Saturday for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
 
QUICK HITTERS
• The Norse concluded a five-game home stand with a 5-4 defeat of Marshall at Frank Ignatius Greiner Softball Field. The Thundering Herd held a 7-0 advantage in the all-time series until NKU broke through via a 12-hit barrage in Game Two of their April 12 doubleheader.
 
• NKU won an extra innings game in the first game of an April 5 doubleheader at Cleveland State. The Norse prevailed 4-3 in nine innings. It was the program's first extra-innings victory since Feb. 15, 2020 against Western Michigan, a game NKU won 7-6 in eight innings.
 
• NKU lost seven straight games earlier this season but snapped the skid with a 4-2 home victory over Western Illinois on March 15. The team has posted a 10-9 record since the drought.
 
• Olivia Pastin hit her first collegiate home run April 12 against Marshall and made a dazzling catch at Youngstown State April 16. She saved a two-run home run by catching a deep fly ball sailing over the left field fence, snatching it before it went out of YSU Softball Stadium. The defensive play made SportsCenter's Top 10 that night, checking in at No. 6.
 
• Kendyl McKeough leads the Horizon League in home runs (10) and is second in doubles (11), RBI (25) and hits (39). She's fourth in at-bats (128) and fifth in slugging percentage (.625) while checking in at sixth in runs scored (22).
 
• Lauryn Hicks picked up her second save this season in the 5-4 victory over Marshall on April 12. The next day she was honored by the Horizon League with the 2022 Bobby Fong Award for representing the conference's core values of integrity, respect and leadership.
 
• Alicia Flores pitched her first collegiate shutout in NKU's 1-0 walk-off triumph over Robert Morris on April 10. The freshman tossed a two-hitter and struck out 11 while walking just one Arrington Walker hit the game-winning RBI, singling up the right side to plate Maddie Lacer.
 
• Tatum Biddle leads the Horizon League in triples (3). She hit two in the five-inning, 21-1 rout of South Carolina State in the Blue Hose Invitational Feb. 12.
 
SCOUTING IUPUI: The Jaguars (9-29, 6-9 Horizon League) were swept at Robert Morris in their last series but have not played since April 17 due to a midweek weather-prompted cancellation at Oakland. Freshman Kendal Calvert leads IUPUI in batting average (.310), hits (36) and runs (20). Sophomore pitcher Madison Bryant (4-17) has a 2.85 ERA in 21 starts. She has struck out 124 and walked 24 in 110.2 innings. The team endured a 17-game losing streak earlier this season but ended the skid against Detroit Mercy March 25. They've gone 7-7 since the drought.