Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
May 17, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -
This Weekend
After waiting more than 48 hours to play because of the weather last weekend, NU and Michigan finally took to the diamond Monday afternoon, with the Wildcats sweeping a doubleheader and helping their postseason aspirations.
Just like a year ago, it all comes down to the final weekend to see if the Wildcats will be playing in the postseason. Last season, NU needed to win 1-of-4 from Minnesota. Unfortunately, the Gophers swept the series, allowing Michigan to qualify for the tourney.
This season, all 10 Big Ten teams are still eligible for postseason play, with playoff implications riding on every game. Northwestern (12-13) is in sixth place, but only one game separates the 'Cats from Indiana (13-12) and Illinois, who are in a tie for third. The 'Cats are a half-game behind Michigan State (12-12) and two games up on seventh-place Iowa (12-15).
NU continues to follow the lead of its pitching staff, which took over the Big Ten lead in strikeouts last week with 178 in 25 games. As a staff they are third in the conference in ERA (4.31), while allowing just 92 earned runs, the third lowest total in the conference.
The offense continues to find ways to win, pulling out final at-bat wins in its doubleheader sweep of Michigan on Monday. In all, NU has won four of its last five one-run games and is 13-7 since Game 4 vs. Purdue, including 9-of-12 in conference action. NU has not lost a conference series since dropping 3-of-4 to Purdue back on April 13-14.
In Their Right Mind
Two of NU's most prolific pitchers this season have been senior Ryan Bos and freshman James Happ, both left-handers. Bos is second (third overall) in the conference in ERA (2.34), while Happ is second on the Wildcats' single season ERA list at 1.63. Bos starts, while Happ comes from the bullpen. Happ leads the team in appearances (19) and saves (4). The two have combined to throw 108.0 innings, striking out 91. In their 108.0 innings, they have held opposing hitters to a measly .221 batting average (87-for-393).
Schara and Ribas
Four-year starters Zach Schara and Gabe Ribas continue to climb several NU career pitching record lists in their senior season. Below is a breakdown of the statistical categories the two right-handers will finish their career on.
Zach ScharaCategory Rank Innings Pitched 316.2 1st Strikeouts 275 1st Games Started 45 t-4th Wins 23 t-3rd
Gabe RibasCategory Rank Innings Pitched 312.2 2nd Strikeouts 270 3rd Games Started 49 t-2nd Wins 19 t-9th
2002 Numbers:
* Combined to strike out 121 hitters, including 79 in conference play.
* Totaled 129.0 innings pitched.
* Ribas owns a 5.9-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio.
* Schara is holding opposing batters to a .256 average.
* Schara has given up 55 hits, only 15 for extra bases.
* Ribas has walked only 13 hitters in 71.2 innings of work.
Career Numbers:
* Combined to pitch 629.1 innings.
* Have struck out 545 hitters compared to 196 walks.
* Combined for a 42-41 record.
* Have started 94 games.
* In four years, they have thrown 31 complete games.
The K Crew
With four games remaining in the Big Ten season, the Northwestern pitching staff finds itself atop the Big Ten standings in total number of batters struck out. In all, 12 Wildcat pitchers have totaled 178 strikeouts, that's an average of 7.1 Ks per contest. The next highest total is 174 by Michigan, which has played two more conference games than NU, 27-25.
King of the Hill
Right-handed pitcher Zach Schara started the season 43 strikeouts short of the NU career record. Schara broke that record in the top of the fourth inning of Game One against Michigan last weekend, striking out Wolverine catcher Jake Fox for the first out of the inning. It was Schara's 274th career K, eclipsing Grady Hall's (1983-86) 15-year old record. Schara now has 275 strikeouts in his career.
Left Side, Strong Side
Senior left-hander Ryan Bos pitched his second complete game on Monday to win his third straight decision. In his last 14 innings, Bos has given up only one run on six hits while striking out 11. He has lowered his overall ERA to 2.60 and boasts the second-best Big Ten ERA at 2.36 (third overall). Bos has thrown 69.1 innings on the season, including 42.0 in Big Ten games.
Walk-it-off
Junior catcher Ken Padgett hit his fifth home run in the bottom of the 12th inning, helping NU win its sixth one-run game of the season. Padgett is tied for second on the team in homers, as NU has already hit 11 more round-trippers (38) than all of last year.
Freshmen Phenoms
The NU pitching staff has recorded 10 saves this season. Eight of those have come via the youth movement, as freshmen J.A. Happ, Jon Mikrut and Evan Blesoff have been there in the clutch. Happ leads the squad with four, while Mikrut has recorded three and Blesoff one. Sophomore Dan Pohlman has tallied the other two opportunities.
Mowin' em Down
Senior right-hander Gabe Ribas has pitched a team-leading 71.2 innings this year and struck out 76 hitters in the process. His 76 punch-outs are the fifth highest total in the Big Ten. Michigan's Rich Hill is atop the standings with 98 Ks in 69.1 innings.
Hit Parade
Junior right fielder Brandon Ackley had his first four-hit game of the season last Monday in NU's game two, 5-4 win over Michigan. Ackley hit a pair of doubles, giving him 10 for the season. In fact, Ackley is hitting .368 (7-for-19) in his last five games, with five runs batted in and four runs scored.
Executive Producers
Freshman shortstop Jon Mikrut and junior Brandon Ackley lead the team with 28 RBI this season. Ackley is also atop the RBI list in conference action, driving in 18 runs in 25 games. In all, NU has driven in 117 runs against Big Ten opponents.
Young Guns
So far this season, six freshmen have toed the rubber in game situations. They have combined to throw 85.0 innings, with the bulk of those innings going to J.A. Happ (33.2) and Evan Blesoff (21.1). Blesoff has 13 appearances, while Happ has a team leading 18, to go along with his four saves. Stanley Finch has thrown 18.0 innings in nine appearances.
Don't Call It a Comeback
Since returning from a hand injury, senior right-hander Zach Schara has dominated on the mound. Out for nearly a month with a fracture in his right hand, Schara has thrown 35.1 innings, starting four games and striking out 30.
Many "Happ"y Returns
Freshman left-hander J.A. Happ has pitched 38.2 innings of baseball this season and has an ERA of 1.63, which puts him in second on the single-season ERA list. Happ has also pitched in 13 of NU's 22 wins.
Home Sweet Home
NU has played 14 games at Rocky Miller Park so far this season. In those 14 games (8-6), the Wildcat offense is hitting .303 compared to a .264 mark on the road (25 games). The Wildcats' average in neutral-site games is .243 (eight games).
Double the Fun
Brandon Ackley, Jason Krynski and Jon Mikrut have all gone deep twice in the same game this season. Ackley did it in Game 4 at Purdue while Krynski hit his pair in Game 1 vs. Penn State. Mikrut has actually done it twice, hitting his first pair during a midweek contest at Chicago State and then two more in Game 4 vs. Iowa.
This ERA Gets the Vote
NU's pitching staff sports a 4.62 ERA for all games this season and a 4.31 mark in conference play. By contrast, opposing Big Ten teams have a 5.08 ERA against the 'Cats in league action. NU's overall ERA is second-best among conference teams, and the 4.31 against Big Ten teams is fourth in the conference. NU's staff also has the highest strikeout total of any Big Ten team in conference action, setting down 178 hitters.
Dynamic Duo
Senior right-handers Zach Schara and Gabe Ribas are climbing up the career records list. Schara holds a slight lead in innings pitched (316.2 to 312.2), and the two are first (275, Schara) and third (270, Ribas) on the career strikeout list.
Going, Going, Gone
NU has hit 38 homers this season, 11 more than all of last year. Of those 38 dingers, 22 have been hit in Big Ten action.
Seeing the Southpaw
Catcher Ken Padgett and right fielder Brandon Ackley are a combined 19-for-50 (.380) against left-handed pitching this season. Padgett holds a slight advantage going 9-for-23 (.391), while Ackley is 10-for-27 (.370).
The Situation Presents Itself
Second baseman Eric Roeder is 3-for-6 with the bases loaded so far this season. Junior Brandon Ackley is hitting .340 with runners in scoring position, while freshman Jon Mikrut has 11 RBI in the same situation.
Rally Hats
Northwestern used its final at-bat in both games Monday afternoon to sweep a doubleheader against Michigan. NU scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh in Game 1 to win 2-1. In Game 2, Ken Padgett hit the first pitch of the bottom of the 12th-inning for a walk-off home run. Padgett's blast was his fifth of the season.
A Race 'To the End
Seniors Zach Schara and Gabe Ribas are neck-in-neck to see who finishes atop the innings pitched and strikeout record lists. Schara holds a four-inning advantage in innings pitched (316.2-312.2) and a slight (275-270) advantage in strikeouts.
Like a Rock
Head Coach Paul Stevens has not had to worry about his starting pitching much in the last four years. At least not when it comes to Zach Schara, Gabe Ribas and Ryan Bos. The three have combined to throw 829.2 innings. Schara and Ribas have thrown 629.1 innings as four-year starters for the Wildcats.
Movin' on Up
Sophomore Jason Krynski, who didn't hit his first home run until 29 games into the season, now leads the squad with six home runs. Four of his six dingers have come during Big Ten games, a team high.
Extra Bases
NU has 413 hits so far this season, and 128 of those are for extra bases.
Takin' One for the Team
Junior catcher Ken Padgett has been hit by a pitch 11 times this season. Those 11 bruises put Padgett in second place on the Big Ten's hit by pitch list. For his career, Padgett has been plunked 22 times in 114 games played (89 starts). The Northwestern single-season record for hit-by-pitches is 13, set in 1996 by Neil Piacenti.
Fly Guy
Freshman Jon Mikrut is tied for fourth in the Big Ten in sacrifice flies. Through 47 games, the shortstop has five to his credit. He also has two sacrifice bunts.
Stepping In
Freshman Jon Mikrut has started 46 games at shortstop this season. The Illinois native is proving his defensive worth, turning 26 of NU's 35 double plays from his middle infield position. At the plate, Mikrut is coming into his own, swatting two home runs vs. Chicago State and Iowa. He has five round-trippers on the year and is tied with junior Brandon Ackley for the team lead in RBI. The two have combined for 91 hits and 56 RBI while scoring 48 runs.
Little Shop of Closers
Freshman J.A. Happ leads the team with four saves. He has thrown in 19 games and given up just nine runs (seven earned) in his college career. Freshman Jon Mikrut has thrown just nine innings this season but is a perfect 3-for-3 in save opportunities. Sophomore Dan Pohlman has thrown 27.2 innings and tallied two saves while compiling a 3-3 record. Freshman Evan Blesoff has earned one save in 21.1 innings pitched, to go along with a 1-3 record in 13 appearances.
No Free Passes
Senior pitcher Gabe Ribas started right where he left off last season, making people earn their way onto the basepaths. In 71.2 innings pitched (14 appearances, 11 starts), the Brunswick, Maine native has given up just 13 base-on-balls this season. On the flip side, he has struck out 76 for a 5.9-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Ribas ended 2001 with a 3.3-to-1 ratio.
One-Hit Wonder
Senior Zach Schara threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout vs. Saint 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.
USA Baseball
This past summer, head coach Paul Stevens served as an assistant for USA Baseball. The team was made up of collegiate all-stars, which played 29 games in 40 days and compiled a 22-7 record, which included a 12-game winning streak. The Red, White and Blue Tour spanned two continents, two countries and 10 different U.S. states.
The Friendly Confines
Former major league pitcher and current Northwestern pitching coach Tim Stoddard showed off his singing abilities last summer on August 22, delighting a Wrigley Field crowd of 33,904 with his rendition of "Take Me Out to The Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch. The former Cub brought close to 50 friends to the game, and his three daughters joined him in the booth to help him dazzle the crowd.