April 11, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - At 2-5 in the conference, this weekend is a crucial four-game series for the Wildcats. For the third straight year, NU has gotten off to a slow start in Big Ten games. In 2000, after the first eight games, the 'Cats had a 2-6 mark, in 2001, they started 1-7. In each of those years NU made second-half comebacks, ending the 2001 season a game short of postseason play.
Purdue enters with a perfect 4-0 home record and is off to a 5-3 start in the Big Ten. A year ago, the Boilermakers swept NU at Rocky Miller Park, and they own an 87-65-2 advantage all-time.
The biggest turnaround needs to come offensively. NU has just two hitters, Steve Haake and Ken Padgett, hitting above .300, although five Wildcats have reached double figures in RBI. Haake leads that RBI group, driving in 18 so far this season.
"Good teams score with two out," said head coach Paul Stevens. "If we would have been more successful with two-out clutch hits, we might have been more successful against Michigan State."
On Tuesday vs. Valparaiso, NU scored three of its five runs with two outs and so far this season they have hit .236 with two outs and .267 with runners in scoring position. But pinch-hitting has been a strong point for the 'Cats, as they are 13-for-44 for a .295 average led by Travis Tharp's .571 average (4-for-7).
Defensively, Coach Stevens has found his middle infield tandem with Jon Mikrut at shortstop (24 starts) and Eric Roeder at second (19 starts). Mikrut has turned 14 double plays this year, while Roeder has started to find his swing again, raising his average 52 points the last two games (5-for-8).
The pitching staff welcomes back senior right-hander Zach Schara after nearly a month on the DL. Schara saw his first action Tuesday agaisnt Valparaiso since tossing a one-hit shutout vs. St. Louis back on March 8. He threw two innings of hitless baseball, striking out two and walking two.
"Schara's not quite a 100 percent," said Stevens. "That's why it was a good thing to get him out on the mound before the weekend."
Schara is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 24.0 innings pitched and 17 strikeouts.
NORTHWESTERN NOTES
Combination is 0-1-1
Last Tuesday five NU pitchers combined to throw a one-hit shutout against Valparaiso. The lone hit was a bloop single to right field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The five hurlers combined to strike out eight and walk three, facing four over the minimum for a nine-inning game. There was one Wildcat miscue that was quickly erased by an inning-ending double play.
Puttin' on the Hits
Senior Steve Haake is currently on pace to set the single-season hit record at Northwestern. He currently has reached base 36 times safely in 101 at-bats, that's a hit every 2.8 trips to the plate.
Many "Happ"y Returns
Freshman left-hander James Happ has thrown 17.0 scoreless innings of baseball in a row. That alone is impressive, however, it becomes even more so when you realize they are the only 17 innings he's ever pitched in college. In addition, the southpaw has yet to give up a hit in 5.0 innings of conference play. He also has three saves.
Sacrifice Fly Guy
True freshman Jon Mikrut leads the Big Ten in sacrifice flies. Through 24 games, the shortstop has five to his credit. He also has one sacrifice bunt.
King of the Hill
Right-handed pitcher Zach Schara started the season 43 strikeouts short of the NU career record. Through 24.0 innings, he is 26 K's shy of reaching the top. In Schara's three-plus years, he has thrown 283.1 innings, striking out 247 hitters. NU's career strikeout mark is 273.
Back By Popular Demand
Senior right-hander Zach Schara was out of commission with a broken right hand (his throwing hand) for nearly a month. The break was discovered Saturday, March 16 and Schara returned to mound April 9 vs. Valparaiso. He threw two innings, walking two and striking out two.
Streaking
Senior Steve Haake continues to swing a hot bat, hitting safely in 22 of NU's 24 games. He leads all players (with 10 or more starts) in hits (36), doubles (7), batting average (.356), total bases (54), slugging percentage (.535) and on-base percentage (.402). Haake hit safely in the first 11 games of the season and currently holds a nine-game hitting streak.
One-Hit Wonder
Senior Zach Schara threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout vs. St. Louis on March 8. NU won the game 4-0. He allowed just one single in the fourth inning, and struck out six while walking just one.
Stepping In
Freshman Jon Mikrut has started every game at shortstop this season. The Illinois native is proving his defensive worth, turning 14 of NU's 19 double plays from his middle infield position. At the plate, Mikrut is adjusting to collegiate pitching, with a .287 average, including his first collegiate home run vs. then-No. 21 Ohio State.
Young Guns
So far this season, six freshmen have toed the rubber in game situations. They have combined to throw 49.0 innings with the bulk of those innings going to James Happ (17.0) and Evan Blesoff (14.2). Blesoff is tied for the team lead in appearances with nine. Stanley Finch has thrown 13.0 innings so far this year.
Tough Luck
Senior left-hander Ryan Bos is getting the short end of the stick this year. With a 1-5 record, the Barrington High School alum has already seen his share of tough losses. In 41.0 innings pitched, he has a 3.73 ERA and 29 strikeouts.
No Free Passes
Senior pitcher Gabe Ribas started right where he left off last season, making people earn their way onto the basepaths. In 38.0 innings pitched (six starts), the Brunswick, Maine native has given up just eight base-on-balls this season. On the flip side, he has struck out 37 for a 4.75-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Ribas ended 2001 with a 3.3-to-1 ratio.
The Rare Roundtripper
Sophomore David Gresky hit a three-run, inside-the-park home run vs. Portland on Feb. 17, the Wildcats' first win of the season. Gresky has two home runs on the year and is second on the team with 16 RBI.
Little Shop of Closers
Freshman James Happ leads the team with three saves. He has thrown in eight games and has yet to give up a run in his college career. Sophomore Dan Pohlman has thrown 10.2 innings and has tallied two saves. Freshman Evan Blesoff has recorded one save in 14.2 innings.
PURDUE NOTABLES
Purdue split a four-game series last weekend at Illinois, winning Friday night's nine-inning contest and Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader. Chadd Blasko earned his third victory of the season on Friday with a complete-game, 10-strikeout performance in which he yielded just four hits. The right-hander stymied the Fighting Illini bats, allowing just one hit in his last seven innings while mowing down 18 of the last 19 batters he faced and allowing just one baserunner past first base during that span. Mitch Pruemer picked up the victory in the Boilermakers' 5-2 Saturday afternoon triumph. Illinois took the nightcap 5-1 and Sunday's series finale 10-7.
Projected lineup:
C-David Harrell, team-leading 22 walks, second with 9 SB.
1B-Kris Luce, has 20 base-on-balls, .404 on-base percentage.
2B-Nick McIntyre, .327 batting average, 18 RBI and eight stolen bases.
SS-Mitch Koester, .318 batting average, 13 RBI and team-leading 20 runs.
3B-John Gusich, second on team in home runs, leads in sacrifice flies.
LF-Andy Rempel, second on team with .329 batting average.
CF-Brad Kriner, hitting .458 in Big Ten games.
RF-Daniel Underwood, slugging percentage of .465 with 13 RBI.
DH-Adam Fazio, leads team with .366 average, three homers and 21 RBI.
In his last three starts, Chadd Blasko has posted an astonishing 1.08 ERA, allowing just three earned runs and three walks in 25.0 innings while striking out 31. The junior earned Big Ten Pitcher Of The Week and Louisville Slugger TPX National Player Of The Week by Collegiate Baseball for his 15-strikeout performance on March 23 vs. Miami (Ohio), with no walks or earned runs in eight innings. In his next outing he allowed just one earned run and one walk while fanning six in an eight-inning complete game on March 29 at Penn State. Last Friday at Illinois, Blasko allowed only four hits and two earned runs while striking out ten for his second consecutive complete game. He retired 18 of the last 19 Illinois hitters and allowed just one hit in the last seven innings and one runner past first base.