May 5, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -
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The Northwestern baseball team hits the road for the last time in regular season action this weekend, traveling downstate to Champaign, Ill., to take on the University of Illinois. NU has their work cut out for them, as the Illini are currently in first place of the Big Ten race with a 14-6 conference record. The Wildcats are tied for fifth with Penn State at 10-10. Illinois is 27-14 overall, while NU is 21-19.
Northwestern will try to repeat history, sweeping Illinois in 2003 and winning three-of-four games in 2004. Both of those series were at Rocky Miller Park in Evanston. The last time the Wildcats traveled to Champaign, the teams played only three games with NU winning two. Northwestern is 9-2 vs. Illinois in the last three seasons.
This year's Illinois squad has not lost a conference series, sweeping Ohio State to start the Big Ten season, winning seven of their first eight league games. U-of-I won three of four against Michigan State and Indiana, and split series with Michigan and Penn State. Against like teams, NU won three of four from Indiana, but won only one vs. Penn State. NU hosts Ohio State and Michigan State the last two weeks of the season at Rocky Miller Park.
Offensively, Illinois is led by infielder Mike Rohde's .351 batting average in all games. He has made 29 starts, producing 40 hits and 29 RBI. Senior Dusty Bensko leads the Big Ten with 11 home runs and is third with 49 RBI. He has a .338 batting average. Catcher Chris Robinson is a close second in batting average, starting 36 games and hitting at a .348 clip. He has six round-trippers and 29 RBI. Outfielder Drew Davidson is tied for second in the league with Wildcat Anthony Wycklendt, each hitting eight home runs.
As a team, the Illini are hitting .306, third best in the conference. They've hit 36 home runs and driven in 258 runs in 42 games.
On the mound, junior Brain Blomquist has a Big Ten leading 2.09 ERA in 10 starts. He is 8-2 with a league-best 73.1 innings pitched. The right-hander has walked just nine hitters this season. Senior right-hander Jimmy Conroy is 6-1 with a 3.14 ERA. He leads the team with 53 strikeouts in 63.0 innings pitched. Out of the bullpen, sophomore Jake Toohey leads the squad with 16 appearances. He is 1-3 with four saves.
Offensively for the Wildcats, catcher Pat McMahon leads the Big Ten with a .412 batting average. The junior is riding a seven-game hitting streak after snapping a 17-game hit streak two weeks against Minnesota. In 38 starts, 30 behind the plate, McMahon has hit safely in 34 games. He has 18 multiple-hit games, including two five-hit performances against Minnesota and Wis-Milwaukee. The Carmel high school product has hit over .400 since April 10, a span of 15 games. With 14 games to play, McMahon needs 18 hits to tied Jeremy Kurella (2000) and Tom Hildebrand (1985) for first on NU's single-season hits list. He currently has 63.
Not to be outdone, Wycklendt leads the squad with eight home runs and 38 RBI. With his eight homers this season, Wycklendt has 20 career home runs, which ties him with Dan Grunhard (1983-85) for seventh on NU's career long ball list.
Shortstop Jon Mikrut raised his average 33 points in the last six games and is currently riding a six-game hit streak. The Illinois native is 15-for-26 during that streak. With 45 hits this season--the third highest total on the team--Mikrut now has 214 career hits. Those 214 hits put him in ninth place on NU's career hits list. Jeremy Kurella (1998-00) is eighth with 220.
Senior third baseman Mike Phelps is having a career season. The Lockport High School alum has set career highs in every major offensive category. Starting 18 of NU's 20 conference games (25 overall), Phelps is hitting .328 in league play and .313 overall.
As a team, the Wildcats are hitting .303 with 21 home runs and 219 RBI in 40 games. NU's .303 average is fourth in the Big Ten.
On the mound for the Wildcats, senior Chris Hayes continues to dazzle out of the bullpen. The Lake Forest High School graduate has a Big Ten best eight saves and a miniscule 1.82 ERA in 17 appearances. He is 3-1 with four saves in Big Ten action.
Senior Evan Blesoff leads the team with 61.0 innings pitched in 11 appearances, which includes nine starts. The right-hander has a record of 4-4.
Sophomore George Kontos has started 10 games and has a team-best 3.64 ERA in 54.1 innings pitched.
As a pitching staff, the Wildcats own a 4.71 ERA and have thrown four complete games.