Feb. 20, 2002

NKU BASEBALL TEAM OPENS FRIDAY

Norse play nationally ranked Carson-Newman

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University baseball team will begin its 2002 season this Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. against Carson-Newman College in the opener of a four-game series in Jefferson City, Tenn. Carson-Newman is 9-3 and ranked No. 23 nationally in the latest NCAA Division II poll. NKU posted a 38-21 record last season and returns seven starters. The Norse also feature one of the top pitching staffs in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. NKU is led by senior catcher Jason Martin, who collected a school-record 81 hits last season. Martin earned third team NCAA Division II All-America honors after hitting .397 with seven home runs and 53 runs batted in. Martin, a graduate of Oak Hills High School, needs 68 hits to pass Gary Flowerdew (263 career hits) and become NKU’s all-time career hits leader. Martin has 196 career hits going into the 2002 season, and he currently ranks No. 6 in Norse history in that category. He also has a .364 career batting average, which ranks No. 10 in Norse history. Senior right-hander Lenny Bays, who posted an 8-2 record with a 3.17 earned run average last season, leads the pitching staff. Bays also recorded 80 strikeouts and was named second team All-GLVC. Senior right-hander Josh Whaley also returns after going 8-4 with a 3.68 ERA.