April 19, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern's baseball team opens up a four-game conference series with the Penn State Nittany Lions today at Rocky Miller Park. Both squads have struggled early in the Big Ten campaigns, with each team entering the weekend at 3-8 in league play. NU has won two in a row while the Lions are coming off a 10-7 loss to Maryland.
Coming off a wild game at Chicago State last Tuesday where winds wipped as high as 30 mph straight out, NU had to overcome an early 6-0 deficit, defeating the Cougars 12-9. Down 8-5 heading into the top of the eighth, the Wildcats plated six runs on six hits, including a Jason Krynski home run. Leading the way was freshman Jon Mikrut who exploded for four hits, two of which were home runs. Mikrut now has three round-trippers on the year. He also leads the Big Ten with five sacrifice flies.
Mikrut's offense is more of what NU needs to be successful. In the last five games, NU has outscored its opponents 25-20, but have a 2-3 record. In those five games, Mikrut is hitting a blistering .412 (7-for-17) with two home runs, a triple and one double. Mikrut and right fielder Brandon Ackley combined for 11 of NU's 22 RBI, with Ackley hitting .333 (6-for-18). Left fielder/designated hitter Dan Pohlman is also coming around offensively. The Barrington High School graduate is 5-for-his-last-9 with a double and home run. He has a slugging percentage of 1.000 and an on-base percentage of .636. A big boost off the bench is Krynski who until recently had seen limited playing time. After a pinch-hit double in Game 3 vs. Purdue, Krynski got the nod at first base in Game 4, going 2-for-4. In his last eight at-bats, Krynski is 4-for-8 with three doubles and a home run.
Defensively, the 'Cats did not commit an error on Tuesday and have committed eight miscues in the last five games. Second baseman Eric Roeder has turned 12 double plays this year while Mikrut has 14. The Mikrut/Roeder combo has started at their middle infield position for 18 straight games.
Senior Zach Schara will pitch Game 3 this weekend, his first start since a March 8 one-hitter against St. Louis.
Breakin' Records
Senior right-hander Zach Schara threw one complete inning vs. Chicago State on Tuesday to become NU's career leader in innings pitched. Schara now has thrown 287.2 innings of baseball, eclipsing the 287.1 mark set by Brian Cummings between the years 1992-95.
A Race 'Til the End
Seniors Zach Schara and Gabe Ribas are neck-in-neck to see who finished atop the innings pitched record list. Schara (287.2) holds a 2.2 inning advantage over Ribas (285.0). With Schara returning to the starting rotation after a brief stint on the DL, the two have as many as six starts left in the season.
Like a Rock
Head Coach Paul Stevens has not had to worry about starting pitching very much in the last fours years. At least not when it comes to Zach Schara, Gabe Ribas and Ryan Bos. The three have combined to throw 749.2 innings. Schara and Ribas have thrown 572.2 innings as four-year starters for the Wildcats.
Movin' on Up
Sophomore Dan Pohlman is coming in to his own the last five games, raising his average 126 points. Since April 6 (Game 2 vs. Michigan State), the Illinois native is 9-for-his-last-15, bringing his overall average to .281. In conference action he has a whopping .500 (9-for-18) batting average.
Many "Happ"y Returns
Freshman left-hander James Happ has pitched 21.1 innings of baseball this season and has given up just two runs in that time. In those innings, 8.1 of them have come in conference play, as the southpaw has heeded just one run on two hits.
Going, Going, GONE
After the first three games against Purdue last weekend, when the offense combined for 16 hits, NU has exploded for 25 in the last two games. Ten of those 25 hits have been for extra bases and six of those 10 have been home runs. NU has hit three home runs in each of its last two games.
Follow the Leader
NU has hit 22 home runs this saeason, five less than all of last year. Of those 22 homers, 14 of them have come in just six games. Meaning, the Wildcats have hit the long ball in 14 separate games, but in six of those, NU has left the yard two or more times.
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 two sacrifice bunts.
King of the Hill
Right-handed pitcher Zach Schara started the season 43 strikeouts short of the NU career record. Through 28.1 innings, he is 21 K's shy of reaching the top. In Schara's three-plus years, he has thrown 287.2 innings, striking out 252 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.
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 20 double plays from his middle infield position. At the plate, Mikrut is coming in to his own, swatting two home runs vs. Chicago State and bringing his average above .300. He leads the team with 19 RBI and 10 of his 29 hits have been for exta bases.
Young Guns
So far this season, six freshmen have toed the rubber in game situations. They have combined to throw 58.1 innings with the bulk of those innings going to James Happ (21.1) and Stanley Finch (18.0). Finch has seven appearances, including two starts. Evasn Blesoff has thrown 14.2 innings so far this year and has nine appearances.
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 46.0 innings pitched, he has a 3.33 ERA and 32 strikeouts. In Bos' seven starts, NU has averaged 3.1 runs per game while Bos has given up an average of 2.4 earned runs an outing. Bos averages 6.2 innings an outing.
No Free Passes
Senior pitcher Gabe Ribas started right where he left off last season, making people earn their way onto the basepaths. In 44.0 innings pitched (eight appearances), the Brunswick, Maine native has given up just eight base-on-balls this season. On the flip side, he has struck out 45 for a 5.62-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Ribas ended 2001 with a 3.3-to-1 ratio.
Little Shop of Closers
Freshman James Happ leads the team with three saves. He has thrown in ten games and has yet given up just two runs in his college career. Sophomore Dan Pohlman has thrown 12.1 innings and has tallied two saves. Freshman Evan Blesoff has recorded one save in 14.2 innings.