May 4, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern continues its tour of professional ballparks this season on Tuesday night as it travels to U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, Ind., to face off against Valparaiso. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Tickets cost just $5 and are available at the stadium box office.
The game can be heard on 89.3 FM, WNUR as well as online at sports.wnur.org. Gametracker can be found at NUsports.com.
The Wildcats (12-30, 3-13 Big Ten) have already played three games at the Metrodome in Minneapolis and one at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago in 2009. U.S. Steel Yard is the home of the Gary SouthShore RailCats of the independent Northern League.
NU will be out to try to snap a four-game skid after dropping a single game against Milwaukee and three contests against 28th-ranked Illinois last week. Sophomore third baseman Chris Lashmet continues to pace Northwestern with a .317 batting average to go along with nine doubles, five homers and 26 driven in.
It will be a bit of a homecoming away from home for Tommy Finn as the senior shortstop is a native of Valparaiso, Ind.
The Wildcats hold a 21-7 lead in their all-time series with the Crusaders. Valpo won the most recent meeting between the clubs, 10-1 April 17, 2007 in Evanston.
Valparaiso (23-20, 9-9 Horizon League) had a five-game winning streak snapped in a 13-4 loss to Youngstown State in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday. Senior catcher Matt Lenski leads the Crusaders offensively, batting .422 with nine doubles, five home runs, 35 RBI and a .600 slugging percentage. Tracy Woodson is in his third season as Valpo's head coach.