May 3, 2010
Northwestern (18-25, 9-6 Big Ten) vs. Valparaiso (18-24, 6-5 Horizon)
Tuesday, May 4, 2010; 7 p.m.
U.S. Steel Yard (6,000)
Gary, Ind.
Northwestern (18-25, 9-6 Big Ten) vs. Univ. of Chicago (16-14)
Wednesday, May 5, 2010; 3 p.m.
Rocky Miller Park (1,000)
Evanston, Ill.
Audio: 89.3 FM WNUR and sports.wnur.org (Tuesday only)
Streaming Video: Wildcats All Access (Wednesday only)
Gametracker: NUsports.com
In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
EVANSTON, Ill. - Fresh off its fourth straight Big Ten series win, the Northwestern baseball team steps outside conference play twice this week. The Wildcats travel to Gary, Ind., to take on Valparaiso at U.S. Steel Yard Tuesday before hosting University of Chicago at Rocky Miller Park Wednesday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday and 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Admission is free of charge for Wednesday's game against the Maroons.
NU has won eight of its last 11 contests, including winning two of three at Illinois last weekend. Freshman center fielder Arby Fields led the way, batting .615 (8-13) with three home runs, eight RBI, a 1.308 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage. He hit a grand slam and a three-run homer in Friday's 11-4 Northwestern victory. The seven RBI in the contest marked the most by a Wildcat player in a game since David Gresky drove in 10 against Chicago State April 15, 2003.
Paul Snieder was also impressive at the plate, collecting five hits in nine at-bats with two doubles and two home runs. Both round-trippers came in Sunday's 7-5 series-clinching win. Snieder slugged an impressive 1.444 against the Illini and also recorded the save in Sunday's triumph. The sophomore paces NU with a .387 batting average and 23 multi-hit games this season.
Valparaiso dropped two of three Horizon League games at Milwaukee last weekend, falling 7-5 and 3-0 after winning the series opener 17-3. Kyle Gaedele leads the way for the Crusaders, batting .373 with 17 doubles, six triples, four home runs, 12 stolen bases and 45 RBI. Justin Frane's .395 batting average is tops on the squad. Valpo is getting quite familiar with U.S. Steel Yard this season. It fell to Indiana 11-2 April 13 and Notre Dame 8-1 April 28 and is also scheduled to face the host Gary SouthShore RailCats May 12, while hosting the Horizon League Championship May 26-30.
Chicago plays a home contest against North Central Tuesday prior to facing the Wildcats. The Maroons dropped a doubleheader at DePaw Saturday, falling 6-5 and 7-2. Stephen Williams paces the team with a .425 batting average, 19 doubles, four home runs and 40 RBI. Jack Cinoman has also driven in 40 this season and is close behind Williams with a .421 average. Chicago sports an impressive .333 team batting average.