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May 3, 2004 |
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NKU EARNS NO. 1 SEED IN NCAA TOURNEY |
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Norse to play host to Great Lakes Regional this week |
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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University softball team has earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament, and the Norse will play host to that double-elimination event May 6-9 at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field. NKU, which enters the NCAA Division II Tournament with a 51-5 overall record, will play at 3 p.m. this Thursday against either fourth-seeded Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (35-17) or fifth-seeded West Virginia Wesleyan College (44-15). SIUE and West Virginia Wesleyan play in the first round at 10 a.m. Thursday, with the winner advancing to meet top-seeded NKU. Lewis University (44-11) is the No. 2 seed and will also have a bye in the first round. The Flyers will take on either third-seeded Grand Valley State University (32-6) or sixth-seeded Alderson-Broaddus College (31-12) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. If NKU wins its game Thursday, the Norse will play at 3 p.m. Friday. If NKU loses in the first round, the Norse will play at 12:30 p.m. Friday in an elimination bracket contest. NKU is 7-3 this season against the Great Lakes Region field. The Norse lost twice to Lewis this past weekend at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, but NKU is 4-2 against the Flyers this spring. NKU is 1-0 against West Virginia Wesleyan, and the Norse split a doubleheader against SIUE this season. NKU defeated Grand Valley State at East Peoria, Ill., earlier this season. NKU features sophomore pitcher Krystal Lewallen, who earned GLVC Player of the Year honors this spring. Lewallen is 28-3 going into the NCAA Division II Tournament and leads the GLVC in strikeouts (272), innings pitched (221.2), wins (28) and earned run average (0.28 ERA). In addition, Lewallen has picked up a GLVC-leading 16 shutouts this season and has limited opposing hitters to a .130 batting average in 2004. NKU is making its third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament. A year ago, the Norse defeated West Virginia Wesleyan in the first round before losing to Grand Valley State and Ashland.
NCAA II Great Lakes Regional (hosted by Northern Kentucky University) Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field Highland Heights, Ky. Thursday, May 6 Game 1 - #4 Southern Illinois at Edwardsville (35-17) vs. #5 West Virginia Wesleyan (44-15), 10 a.m. Game 2 - #3 Grand Valley State (32-6) vs. #6 Alderson-Broaddus (31-12), 12:30 p.m. Game 3 - #1 Northern Kentucky (51-5) vs. SIUE/WVWC winner, 3 p.m. Game 4 - #2 Lewis (44-11) vs. GVSU/ABC winner, 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 7 Game 5 - Game 1 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 10 a.m. Game 6 - Game 2 loser vs. Game 3 loser, 12:30 p.m. Game 7 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 3 p.m. Game 8 - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 8 Game 9 - Game 8 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 10 a.m. Game 10 - Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 12:30 p.m. Game 11 - If necessary, TBD (could be Sunday, May 9) |