Feb. 19, 2004
Northwestern Game Notes in PDF Format
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EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern baseball team continues its 2004 campaign this weekend, as the Wildcats travel to Albuquerque, N.M., for the Ultimate Dugout Baseball Fiesta. The Wildcats, who are 1-2 so far this season, will open up tournament play Friday morning against No. 21/23* Nebraska (0-0) at 11:30 a.m. (CST) at Isotopes Park, home of the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. NU plays all three tournament games at Isotopes Park, including a Saturday tilt with Kent State (0-1) and a Sunday matchup with host New Mexico (0-0).
Nebraska begins its season this weekend after ending 2003 with a 7-0 loss to Southwest Missouri State at the NCAA Regional. NU has been to four-straight Regional tournaments and three of the last four Super Regionals, missing last year's by one game. The Huskers made consecutive trips to the College World Series in 2001-02.
Northwestern's Saturday opponent, Kent State, began the season vs. Kentucky, losing a heartbreaker 3-2 in the ninth. Two other scheduled games were rained out. The Golden Flashes are led by Chad Kinyon, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the season opener. KSU had a 36-18 record in 2003.
Like Nebraska, the University of New Mexico opens its 2004 campaign this weekend after winning 34 games in 2003. The Lobos are led by senior co-captain Sean Murray, who finished 2003 with a .383 batting average, including seven home runs and 60 RBI.
Northwestern travels to the southwest for the second time this year, competing in the Oakland A's Spring Training Tournament last weekend. NU dropped the season opener 15-11 to Pacific, before rebounding to defeat Washington State 3-2. NU lost to San Francisco 10-4 to end the weekend.
Pitching, which was tabbed Northwestern's strength this preseason, struggled in the early going. A pitcher's worst enemy-the walk-was prevalent in the two losses as Wildcat pitchers allowed 13 walks and hit four batters. In the win over WSU, NU walked two and hit none.
The offense has averaged 6.0 runs in the first three games. Sophomores Dan Brauer and Anthony Wycklendt have been the catalysts so far this season. Brauer has an on-base percentage of .692, while Wycklendt has a slugging percentage of .833. Lead-off man Josh Lieberman is hitting .364 while freshman Caleb Fields knocked in three runs over the weekend. Catcher Dan Pohlman is hitting .333 and has thrown out 4-of-6 base stealers.
* Rankings done by Collegiate Baseball/Baseball America
'Cat Nips
* Junior Julian Romero (Albuquerque, N.M.) is making a trip home this weekend. Romero attended Albuquerque High School.
* Sophomore Dan Brauer leads the team with a .500 batting average in 12 plate appearances (4-for-8), which includes four walks. Brauer hits in the No. 3 or No. 4 spot in the order after getting only 13 at-bats in 2003. He hit a triple in his first at-bat this season.
Northwestern By The Numers
4 * Number of triples NU hit in its first three game in Arizona. Anthony Wycklendt hit two in season opener. NU hit seven all last year.
4 * Number of base stealers Dan Pohlman threw out from his catching position in first three games. He was 2-for-6 overall.
28 * Players on the roster.
56 * Games on the schedule.
9 * Newcomers (eight freshman, one junior). Luke Sundheim transferred from Drexel.
2 * Pitchers returning with five wins in 2003. (J.A. Happ, 7 - Dan Brauer, 5)
10 * Pitchers returning with at least eight appearances.
20 * Number of games NU will play away from Northwestern to start the season.
38 * Total number of games away from Rocky Miller Park.
19 * Home games.
423 * Number of career wins at Northwestern by head coach Paul Stevens.