| NORTHWESTERN AT ARIZONA STATE | ||||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | STREAM | RADIO | |
| Friday, Feb. 17 | Arizona State | 3:00 p.m. CT | Phoenix Municipal Stadium | Pac-12 Network | WNUR | |
| Friday, Feb. 17 | Arizona State | 7:30 p.m. CT | Phoenix Municipal Stadium | Pac-12 Network | WNUR | |
| Saturday, Feb. 18 | Arizona State | 2:00 p.m. CT | Phoenix Municipal Stadium | Pac-12 Network | WNUR | |
| Social: Twitter (@NUCatsBaseball and @NU_SportsLive) | Instagram (nucatsbaseball) | Facebook Game Notes: Northwestern |
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EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern baseball will begin its 2017 season by traveling west for a three-game set at Arizona State (Feb. 17-18) this weekend. Due to inclement weather, the schedule has changed to feature a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. CT and 7:30 p.m. CT, while the finale is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 18. All three games will be broadcasted on WNUR Sports Radio and streamed online via Pac-12 Network.
Leading Off
Northwestern baseball will open up the 2017 campaign under second-year head coach Spencer Allen on Friday with a three-game set at Arizona State. Allen and the Wildcats posted a 15-39 overall mark last spring.
Northwestern enters this season with an experienced roster returning seven starters from a season ago, in addition to 11 pitchers that saw action last season. The Wildcats return five of their top six batters from last season, including senior Matt Hopfner, who paced the club with a .355 mark at the dish. All five of those players (Hopfner: 71, Lind: 58, Dunn: 55, Bourbon: 47, Hoscheit: 46) had 45-or-more hits last season.
The Wildcats will look to replace Reed Mason on the bump this spring. Mason led the team in wins (4), games started (14), innings pitched (76.1), strikeouts (53) and ERA (3.89) last season. Junior Tommy Bordignon and Joe Schindler are prime to be the go-to arms for NU. Bordignon was responsible for a pair of victories last season and limited opposing batters to a .219 average. The hard-throwing righty had 34 strikeouts in 48.1 innings. Schindler started six games on the bump last season and tallied 27 strikeouts in 35.1 innings pitched. Tyler Lass returns for his sophomore campaign after leading the #B1GCats in saves (3) last season.
The Opponent
Arizona State posted a 36-23 overall mark in the 2016 season, which included a 21-12 home record. Andrew Shaps is the top returning offensive weapon for the Sun Devils. He posted a .321 average with 68 hits.
The Sun Devils are slated to throw left-handed pitcher Eli Lingos in the season opener, while righty Ryan Hingst will pitch in game two and freshman Spencer Van Scoyoc will make his college debut in the finale. Lingos was 4-5 last season with a 4.50 ERA in 20 appearances. Hingst only started a pair of games in 2016, but made 13 relief appearances to tally a 3-1 mark and a 3.06 ERA.
ASU enters the season with a young roster, boasting 25 underclassmen to just nine upperclassmen.
On The Bump
Northwestern's starting rotation this weekend will have a fresh look to it. Allen has tabbed Joe Schindler as the opening day starter for the second straight year, while freshmen Hank Christie and Matt Gannon will make their collegiate debuts in game two and game three of the series, respectively.
Arizona Openers
Northwestern opened the 2016 season and the Spencer Allen era last season in Mesa, Ariz., by splitting a a four-game series with Nevada at Sloan Park, the spring training home of the Chicago Cubs.