By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – When the weather wrecks havoc on spring sports schedules, the Northern Kentucky University softball team is usually left canceling games or making trips. This weekend, however, the pendulum has swung in the favor of the Norse, as NKU will open its Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule at home against Wisconsin-Parkside on Friday.

First pitch for the doubleheader is scheduled for noon.

Additionally, Saturday’s doubleheader against Lewis has been moved to Highland Heights, with the first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m.

Both the Norse (4-10) and the Rangers (9-4) are fresh off road trips to Kissimmee, Fla., where they competed in the Rebel Spring Games. Both teams came off high notes in the Sunshine State, with NKU winning its final two games in come-from-behind fashion, while Parkside saw victory in its last four games, with eight of the team’s nine victories coming during the week.

The Norse will contend with GLVC Softball Pitcher of the Week Megan Shimikus of Parkside. Shimikus claimed 1-0 victories over No. 18 Minnesota State and No. 5 Lock Haven while at the Rebel Spring Games. Shimikus struck out 25 batters in 23 innings in the circle.

Lewis (12-8, 2-0 GLVC) has already tasted victory in GLVC play, taking a doubleheader sweep at defending national champion Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, 2-1 and 4-2. Catcher Mallory Paine’s home run in the top of the 11th inning was enough to beat SIUE’s Pitcher of the Year candidate Kaitlin Colosimo in Game 1. The Flyers then came from a two-run deficit to defeat the Cougars in Game 2 and complete the sweep.

LAST TIME AGAINST PARKSIDE: NKU took a split against Parkside, winning Game 1, 1-0, before falling, 10-3, in Game 2. Parkside used an eight-run fourth inning to push past the Norse and keep their record even in conference play. Cara Parker hit a two-run triple for the Norse in Game 2.

LAST TIME AGAINST LEWIS: The Flyers got the best of the Norse last year, taking both games of a doubleheader in Highland Heights, 5-4 and 5-3. Amanda Smith hit her third home run of the season in the second game of the twin bill, but could not find the measure of the Flyers.

SPLITSVILLE: The Norse and Rangers have enjoyed one of the most evenly-matched series in recent history, with the teams splitting their conference doubleheader in five of the last seven seasons. NKU swept the series in 2004 and 2005.

SWINGIN’ SAM: Sam Del Vecchio has made her case for breaking into Kathy Stewart’s starting lineup. After a lackluster freshman campaign in which she batted just .100, the Deer Park High School graduate leads the Norse with a .429 average. Del Vecchio hit .600 (3-for-5) last week, including 2-for-2 in pinch-hitting situations.

AMAZING APRIL: April Ehlers has found a rhythm, striking out 40 batters over her last four starts inside the circle. However, the freshman has not gotten much run support over the stretch, resulting in a 2-2 record in the decisions.