Highland Heights, KY-The Cleveland State softball team travels to Northern Kentucky for a weekend series pitting two of the top three teams in the Horizon League standings in a key early season conference matchup. The first game of the series is set for Friday at 3:00 p.m. with a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday starting at noon.
 
NKU is 6-0 in league play after sweeping the first two conference series of the season over Green Bay and Oakland. Cleveland State is 5-1 after sweeping Youngstown State and taking two of three from IU Indy this past weekend at Viking field. The Vikings are tied with Robert Morris for second place in the standings.
 
NKU leads the conference in most offensive statistical categories. The Norse top the league with a .370 batting average in conference play and are also first with 49 runs scored. Cleveland State has found success with the long ball in recent weeks as the Vikings lead the league with 11 home runs through six league games.
 
The series also features a top tier pitching matchup between Cleveland State's Melissa Holzopfel and Northern Kentucky's Alicia Flores. Both have a 1.75 ERA in conference play and have yet to lose a decision against a conference opponent. Holzopfel has totaled 26 strikeouts which is second in the league and Flores has struck out 15 which is tied for third.
 
Live stats will be available for all games with live streaming coverage scheduled for Saturday's doubleheader on ESPN+.