Baseball

The Northern Kentucky University baseball team began Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a pair of doubleheaders. The Norse was swept by Quincy March 17. Quincy scored four runs in the 12th inning to take the first game 8-6, and cruised to a 16-5 victory in the nightcap. The Norse came back the next day to be on the winning side of a sweep against Illinois-Springfield. Freshman Drew Campbell pitched six scoreless innings in the first game, and the Norse won easily 11-3. NKU won the second game 11-5, highlighted by a grand slam by sophomore Brett Cisper that was part of a six-run fifth inning for the Norse.

Softball

The Northern Kentucky University softball team traveled on the road for a pair of doubleheaders and went 3-1. The Norse split a doubleheader with Kentucky Wesleyan March 17 and swept Southern Indiana March 18. Junior Emily Schwaeble threw her third straight shutout in Game 1 to lead the team to a 1-0 victory. One run was not enough in Game 2, as the Norse lost 2-1. The Norse defeated Southern Indiana the next day 4-1 and 8-3. The Norse came back home for a doubleheader against Urbana on March 20 and won in a pair of shutouts, 9-0 and 2-0. Schwaeble pitched a no-hitter in the first game and freshman Alex Caudill pitched a one-hitter in the second game.

Track and Field

The Northern Kentucky University track and field teams began the outdoor season on March 17 at the Early Bird Relays, hosted by the University of Cincinnati. Junior Kayla Justice had the highest finish for the women, placing fifth in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. The women’s team earned 17 points to finish 12th out of 15 teams. The men’s team scored 13 points in the team event to take 10th place out of 12 teams, highlighted by a third-place finish by junior Brendan Chwalek in the 1,000 meter steeplechase.