March 26, 2009
NU Game Notes vs. Purdue (PDF)
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern and Purdue get the Big Ten season underway this weekend as the teams participate in a three-game series at Rocky Miller Park. Friday's contest, which starts at 3 p.m., will also be the home opener for the Wildcats. Start time for Saturday's and Sunday's games is set for 1 p.m.
Live streaming video of the first two games will be available via All-Access. Gametracker will be offered throughout the entire series.
The Big Ten schedule takes on a new look this season as teams will play one less game per weekend. In the past, a conference series consisted of a four-game set with one nine-inning game being played on both Friday and Sunday and two seven-inning games being played on Saturday. This year, a series will consist of a single nine-inning game being played all three days.
NU is looking to snap a seven-game skid and has been more than competitive in the majority of those contests. The Wildcats have had the lead or have been tied in the seventh inning or later in five of the games.
Northwestern faced a pair of quality opponents on its spring trip as New Mexico has a 22-3 record and is ranked as high as No. 20 in the national polls and Kansas State has a 20-5 mark. Offense wasn't much of an issue as the 'Cats scored an average of 6.5 runs per game.
Junior catcher Chad Noble has been on a tear as of late. On Northwestern's recently completed six-game road trip, Noble went 11-for-22 at the plate with a trio of three-hit games. He entered the trip with a .233 batting average, but the stellar swing has raised his average 90 points up to a team-leading .323. After driving just three runs through the Wildcats' first 15 games this season, Noble drove in seven the last six contests.
Northwestern has had a number of freshman provide immediate contributions this season. Second baseman Trevor Stevens has started all 20 contests and leads the team with 15 RBI and is second with a .297 batting average. First baseman/designated hitter Paul Snieder has six extra-base hits among his 12 hits, including tying for the team lead with three home runs.
On the mound, Zach Morton is second on NU with a 4.91 ERA in a team-high six starts. He has gone at least five innings in two of his last three starts and has allowed just two earned runs in 12.1 innings pitched in those three contests. Four other freshmen have earned position starts in 2009, while Michael Jahns is second on the team with eight pitching appearances.
Friday's matchup between NU and Purdue will feature the two most recent Big Ten Freshmen of the Year as Wildcat lefty Eric Jokisch, who earned the award a year ago, squares off against Boilermaker righty Matt Bischoff, who received the honor in 2007.
On Saturday, a pair of junior southpaws are set to square off as Northwestern's Joe Muraski will be opposed by Purdue's Matt Jansen. In Sunday's finale, Morton toes the rubber against sophomore right-hander Matt Morgan.
Scouting Purdue
The Boilermakers (9-9) are coming off a 5-2 win over IPFW on Tuesday as Dan Black's three-run double in the eighth inning was the difference. The junior third baseman, who hit game-winning homers the previous week against UIC and UT-Martin, leads Purdue with 25 RBI and ranks first in the Big Ten with eight home runs and second with a .734 slugging percentage. Nick Overmyer paces the Boilers with a .360 batting average while Brandon Haveman is close behind at .354. Matt Morgan leads all Purdue starting pitchers with a 3.51 ERA.
Series History: Purdue leads, 101-80-2.
Last Season: The Boilermakers won three of four games during a Big Ten season-opening series in West Lafayette, Ind., March 28-30, 2008.