The Northern Kentucky University softball team steps out of conference play on Tuesday for a midweek showdown against in-state rival Eastern Kentucky. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m., with live stats links available at NKUNorse.com.
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (8-20)
Eastern Kentucky University Colonials (22-6)
March 29 – 4 p.m.
Gertrude Hood Field – Richmond, Ky.
Series History: NKU leads, 3-2
Last Time Out – The Norse took one of three games against Oakland in the opening weekend of Horizon League play last weekend, winning Friday’s contest by a 7-6 score before dropping Saturday’s opener, 8-2, and falling in 13 innings in the rubber game, 6-3. Zahrya McFarland scored three runs on the weekend, including the walk-off winner on Friday, while Alyssa Enrique had a strong pitching performance in relief on Saturday, scattering four hits and striking out two in seven innings.
Scouting Eastern Kentucky – The Colonels enter Tuesday’s game on a seven-game winning streak after sweeping a pair of Ohio Valley Conference doubleheaders against Murray State and Austin Peay. Kayla Joyce is currently riding a 12-game hitting streak, batting .417 on the year with a pair of homers and 15 RBIs, while Paige Murphy leads the offensive effort at .429 with 25 runs scored. As a team, the Colonials are batting .322 and have stolen 57 bases. In the circle, Hayley Flynn leads the way with a 14-3 record and a 2.33 ERA with 108 strikeouts in 96 innings.
The Series – NKU holds a 3-2 lead in the all-time series against EKU after splitting a doubleheader during the 2014 season. The Colonels took a 7-4 win in the opener before Alyssa Enrique struck out five batters and surrendered just one hit in a 2-1 victory to salvage the split.
McFarland Feeling It – Zahrya McFarland had a strong showing in the opening weekend of Horizon League play against Oakland, going 5-for-10 at the plate with a pair of doubles, a home run, three runs scored and two stolen bases on the weekend. Her home run came with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning in the final game of the series, forcing extra innings to keep the Norse alive.
McFarland is now batting .276 on the season and leads the Norse with six stolen bases.
From NKU Athletics