April 7, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern returns to baseball action this Tuesday and Wednesday at Rocky Miller Park as it hosts Elmhurst and Northern Illinois, respectively. Tuesday's contest with the Bluejays gets underway at 3:30 p.m., while first pitch is set for 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Both games can be heard at 89.3 FM, WNUR and online at sports.wnur.org. Gametracker is also available for each contest and can be accessed via NUsports.com. Wednesday's game against NIU is being video streamed via Wildcats All-Access at NUsports.com.
The Wildcats are looking to get back on the winning track after dropping three close games at Michigan State over the weekend. Eric Jokisch hurled his fourth complete game of the season, a five-hitter, but NU still dropped Saturday's opening game of a doubleheader, 2-0. The Spartans also took the nightcap by a 9-4 score, tallying four times in the bottom of the eighth inning to distance themselves from the 'Cats. MSU then scored the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to take Sunday's finale, 6-5.
Northwestern leads the all-time series with Elmhurst, 11-5. The Wildcats rolled to a 15-4 victory May 6, 2008 in Evanston. Matt Gailey pitched four solid innings to earn his first career win on the mound.
The Bluejays (9-10), who compete at the NCAA Division III level, are coming off a 5-3 rain-shortened win over North Park on Sunday. Elmhurst sports a .315 team batting average, led by Nick Herrera who is hitting .403 with seven doubles and 18 RBI and Michael Kerr who is batting an even .400 with a team-best .660 slugging percentage. Cody Boals paces the pitching staff with a 2-2 record a 3.67 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched. Joel Southern is in his third season as the head coach of the Bluejays.
Northern Illinois has a 14-10 edge all-time against the Wildcats. The two schools last met May 1, 2007 in Evanston with the Huskies winning by a 5-4 margin.
NIU takes an 11-17 overall record into its contest at Ilinois State Tuesday evening. Junior third baseman Jordin Hood paces the Huskies with a .416 batting average, 12 doubles, four home runs and 26 RBI. He is also slugging .673. Reliever Tom Zelasko has already made 18 appearances this season and has a 2-2 record with a team-best 4.30 ERA. Ed Mathey is in his seventh season as the head coach at Northern Illinois.