Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Set to Host Gophers This Weekend
4/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 22, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Friday afternoon, Northwestern and Minnesota meet for the first of a four-game conference series in Evanston, Ill. The game will pit arguably two of the best pitchers in the Big Ten Conference this season, Northwestern's J.A. Happ and Minnesota's Glen Perkins. Both hurlers are left handed. Happ is a two-time first-team all-conference selection, while Perkins (also a 2003 first-team honoree) was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season.
So far in 2004, both pitchers lead their respective teams in innings pitched and wins. Happ sits atop the conference with 75 strikeouts and is second with 59.1 innings pitched; Perkins is eighth in both Ks (47) and innings pitched (52.2). Happ is ranked 24th in the country, averaging 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings, while Perkins averages 8.1. Both team aces have sent down 18 batters looking, tied for second in the Big Ten. Happ has started nine games on the mound this season, Perkins eight.
While pitching will be at premium all weekend-both team pitching staffs are rated in the top five of the conference-it will be up to which offense can execute crucial situations. Minnesota holds a 40-to-50 edge in team errors on the season, while NU has turned 38 double plays compared to 24 for the Gophers.
Offensively, Minnesota holds a slight advantage in overall team batting average, .303 to .296. The Golden Gophers have hit 62 doubles, while NU has 51. The Wildcats have a league-leading 15 triples, U-of-M has six. Northwestern has 23 home runs, the Gophers 20. And last, but certainly not least, NU has 10 sacrifice flies and 30 sac bunts, compared to Minnesota's 12 sac flies and 17 sacrifice bunts.
Individually for the Gophers, Sam Steidl is third in the conference with a .396 batting average. He also is second in the Big Ten with 53 hits. NU is led by junior Jon Mikrut, who not only has three saves as a pitcher, but boasts a team-leading .333 batting average and 27 RBI. Sophomore Mark Ori is hitting .318 and has raised his average 38 points in the last 10 games. Catcher Dan Pohlman leads the team with six home runs and 11 Big Ten RBI. He has 23 overall RBI.
