NKU’s Angie Lindeman

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University softball team will play Le Moyne (N.Y.) at 5 p.m. Thursday in the NCAA Division II World Series at Salem, Va.

NKU enters the double-elimination event with a 53-0 record, while Le Moyne is 43-9 after capturing the Northeast Regional title on Sunday. NKU is ranked No. 1 nationally in the Division II poll, while Le Moyne is ranked 23rd in the nation.

NKU is making its second straight trip to the national finals. A year ago, the Norse dropped two straight at Altamonte Springs, Fla.

HOW NKU REACHED THE NATIONALS: Junior pitcher Krystal Lewallen hurled a three-hit shutout and struck out nine batters last Saturday as NKU captured the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region championship with a 2-0 win over Northwood at Highland Heights, Ky.

In 20 innings during the Great Lakes Regional, Lewallen allowed just one earned run and had 29 strikeouts in the three victories as top-ranked NKU earned a repeat trip to the NCAA Division II World Series.

ABOUT THE NORSE (53-0)

•NKU’s 53 straight wins are the most in collegiate softball history.

•NKU won the NCAA II Great Lakes Region championship as well as the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles. The Norse entered the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 1 nationally in the Division II poll.

•NKU’s last loss came on May 14, 2004, by a 1-0 score to Caldwell (N.J.) at the NCAA Division II World Series at Altamonte Springs, Fla. It was the Norse’s first-ever trip to the national finals.

NKU’s Krystal Lewallen

•NKU’s Krystal Lewallen is 30-0 this season and is the Norse’s career leader in wins (77) and strikeouts (806). She also earned Great Lakes Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year honors. Lewallen also has 19 shutouts this season, and she earned most valuable player honors at last week’s NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional. She is one victory shy of tying her own school record for wins (31), which she set last year.

•NKU’s Ricki Rothbauer enters the national finals having set Norse single-season records for hits (79) and runs scored (48).

•NKU’s Angie Lindeman is the school’s all-time career leader with 156 runs batted in.

•NKU freshman Sarah King enters the national finals with 45 RBI, five shy of tying Lindeman’s single-season record of 50.

•NKU’s Lindeman, Megan Owens, Heather Cotner, Stephanie Leimbach and Rachele Vogelpohl each were named to the Great Lakes Region All-Tournament Team along with Lewallen.

•NKU head coach Kathy Stewart is 252-101 in seven years with the Norse. She was also named the GLVC Coach of the Year this season and is NKU’s all-time career leader in coaching victories.

•NKU pitching has posted 26 shutouts this season.

•Norse sophomore shortstop Becky Napier leads the team with 13 doubles.

•NKU is 26-0 on neutral fields this season.

•The Norse have not hit two home runs in a game this season and have only nine round-trippers in 2005.

•Junior left fielder Rachele Vogelpohl leads NKU with three home runs.

•NKU senior center fielder Stephanie Leimbach had her 32-game hitting streak snapped against Northwood last Saturday. Leimbach’s 32-game hitting streak ranks fifth in NCAA Division II history.

•Eight NKU players were selected All-GLVC. Six Norse - Lewallen, Rothbauer, Lindeman, Napier, Leimbach and pitcher Emily Breitholle - were named to the first team. Owens and Vogelpohl were voted to the second team.

•Five NKU players earned All-Great Lakes Region honors from the NFCA. Lewallen, Lindeman, Leimbach and Rothbauer were named first team. Breitholle earned second-team honors.

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