NKU’s Stephanie Leimbach

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 12-15 at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field.

Tickets for the Great Lakes Region Tournament may be purchased at the gate one hour prior to the start of each session (each day is a session), and one ticket is good for all day. General admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students/senior citizens and children.

NKU, which enters the NCAA Division II Tournament with a 50-0 overall record, will play at 3 p.m. this Thursday against either fourth-seeded Ferris State (30-18) or fifth-seeded Northwood (31-12). Those two teams play in the first round at 10 a.m. Thursday, with the winner advancing to meet top-seeded NKU.

Southern Illinois at Edwardsville (40-13) is the No. 2 seed and will also have a bye in the first round. The Cougars will take on either third-seeded West Virginia Wesleyan (41-16) or sixth-seeded Gannon (32-16) 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’s 50 consecutive wins entering the NCAA Tournament are the most in collegiate softball history. The Norse - who are making their fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament - won the NCAA II Great Lakes Region championship last season.

NKU’s Krystal Lewallen was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year by the league coaches. Lewallen enters the NCAA Tournament with a 27-0 record, and her 0.34 earned run average is the best in the latest NCAA Division II statistics. She also has 276 strikeouts and 17 shutouts this season.

NKU senior center fielder Stephanie Leimbach enters the NCAA Tournament with a 30-game hitting streak. Leimbach’s 30-game hitting streak ranks fifth all-time in NCAA Division II history, with 35 straight being the record.

ABOUT THE TEAMS IN THE GREAT LAKES REGIONAL

FERRIS STATE - Ferris State owns a 30-18 record entering the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Bulldogs won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship last week with a victory over Northwood in the title game.

Ferris State is led by junior outfielder Emily McLean, who was named GLIAC Player of the Year this season. McLean has nine home runs and a .385 batting average. She also has 36 runs batted in.

Sophomore catcher Allison McKibbin is hitting .363 with 35 RBI. Senior pitcher Rachel Chartier is 15-9 with a 1.71 earned run average.

NORTHWOOD - Northwood enters the NCAA Division II Tournament with a 31-12 record. The Timberwolves captured the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title with a 14-6 record and finished second at the GLIAC Tournament last week.

Northwood features third baseman Sam Thacker, who is hitting .336 with five homers and 32 runs batted in. GLIAC Freshman of the Year Julie Olsen is batting .373.

Junior pitcher Lisa Shepard is 21-5 with a 0.77 earned run average. Shepard also has 182 strikeouts and eight shutouts.

WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN - West Virginia Wesleyan owns a 41-16 record entering the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Bobcats captured the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship last week.

West Virginia Wesleyan features Heather Hall, who is batting .362 with five home runs and 44 runs batted in. Hall also has 15 doubles. Sarah Baise has eight homers and 30 RBI, while Miranda Durst has seven homers and 31 RBI.

Brittany Sphar is 16-3 with a 1.10 earned run average and 110 strikeouts, and Cory Karcesky is 13-8 with a 2.17 ERA and 120 strikeouts

GANNON - Gannon enters the NCAA Division II Tournament with a 32-16 record. The Golden Knights finished third in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference during the regular season.

Gannon is led by Joanna Fergus, who is hitting .360 with nine home runs, 12 doubles and 44 runs batted in. Allison Gerger is batting .310 and has eight homers and 24 RBI.

Lauren Soldner is Gannon’s top pitcher with a 19-8 record. She also has a 1.28 earned run average and 151 strikeouts. Jenn Kulick owns a 13-8 record, and she has a 1.92 ERA.

SIUE - SIUE is 40-13 entering the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Cougars finished second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference during the regular season.

SIUE is led by versatile junior outfielder/pitcher Alicia DeShasier, who owns a .372 batting average with a team-leading eight home runs and 38 runs batted in. DeShasier also has 14 wins on the mound. Junior second baseman Holly Neuerburg is batting .342 with a team-leading 43 RBI.

Senior shortstop Veronica Schmidt is hitting .331 with 13 doubles and 35 RBI.

NCAA II Great Lakes Regional
(hosted by Northern Kentucky University)
Frank Ignatius Grein Softball Field
Highland Heights, Ky.

Thursday, May 12
Game 1 - #4 Ferris State (30-18) vs. #5 Northwood (31-12), 10 a.m.
Game 2 - #3 West Virginia Wesleyan (41-16) vs. #6 Gannon (32-16), 12:30 p.m.
Game 3 - #1 Northern Kentucky (50-0) vs. Ferris State/Northwood winner, 3 p.m.
Game 4 - #2 Southern Illinois at Edwardsville (40-13) vs. West Virginia Wesleyan/Gannon winner, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, May 13
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 14
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.

Sunday, May 15
Game 11 - If necessary, noon