Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Welcome Illinois For Weekend Showdown
5/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 6, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern welcomes the University of Illinois to the friendly confines of Rocky Miller Park this weekend, after splitting a four-game series at Iowa a week ago. The Illini enter the weekend after winning two midweek games, upping their season record to 18-25, 7-13 in the Big Ten. The Illini are tied with Indiana and Iowa for eighth place in the League standings, while NU (19-21-1, 8-12) is alone in seventh.
The Wildcats will be trying to repeat history, sweeping the four-game series here last season. In 2003, the two teams went into extra innings in Friday's game, with NU winning in the 10th on a wild pitch. The NU pitching staff took over from there, not allowing more than three runs in any of the following games, giving Northwestern its first four-game conference sweep since they won four games at Iowa in 1998. It also marked the first time since 1984 that NU swept the Fighting Illini, and the first time a Paul Stevens-coached team had accomplished the feat.
So far this year the Illini have split series with Michigan State, Michigan and Indiana. They lost three of four to Ohio State before being swept by Penn State last weekend.
As a team, Illinois is hitting .274 and are led by catcher Chris Robinson, who is hitting .352 with six home runs and 19 RBI. Shortstop Eric Eymann is hitting .302 and is one of the league leaders in doubles (8) hit during the conference season.
On the mound, Illinois sports a 5.23 team ERA. Senior right hander Tim Gorski is 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 48 innings of work. The Illini staff gave up 17 runs (16 earned) in last weekend's Penn State series, but had trouble scoring runs. Nittany Lion pitchers allowed only three runs in the four games.
NU is led by the duo of sophomore Mark Ori and senior Dan Pohlman. Over the last two weeks (nine games), these two have combined to go 36-for-67 from the plate, an outstanding .537 average. Not only that, but Ori leads the Big Ten with a .444 average in conference games, followed closely by Pohlman at No. 3, .406.
As a team, the Wildcats are up to .301, belting 26 home runs-14 in Big Ten games-and a league-leading 16 triples. Pohlman leads the team with seven round trippers and 34 RBI, while Anthony Wycklendt is atop the Big Ten with four triples. Shortstop Jon Mikrut is hitting .318 and has driven in 32 with five home runs, two triples and seven doubles. He also has four saves as a pitcher.
Senior Dan Konecny has NU's best conference record on the mound, going 2-1 in his four starts. The Wisconsin native has struck out 18 in 25.0 innings of work. NU's two left-handers, J.A. Happ and Dan Brauer, have combined to strikeout 166 hitters this season, with Happ No. 1 in the conference at 86 and Brauer No. 2 with 80. Brauer has pitched 70.1 innings, compared to 69.0 for Happ. They each have started 11 games.
Not to be outdone, freshman George Kontos threw the first complete-game shutout of his career, blanking Iowa 3-0 last weekend. The Illinois native tied his career high with seven Ks, throwing just 99 pitches.
Friday, May 7 vs. Illinois - 3 p.m.
Dollar Dog Day
$1 Vienna Beef hot dogs will be available.
NU $5 Friday Happy Hours at Rocky Miller Park
$5 meal deals (Pepsi, Hot Dog, Chips) for all NU students/staff presenting a WildCARD
Skokie Indian Little League Day (Rookie and A League)
Free admission for kids wearing SILL jersey. $1 admission for friends and family.
Postgame Base Race
Postgame Autograph Session (on field, all players)
Saturday, May 8 vs. Illinois - Doubleheader - 1 p.m.
Dollar Dog Doubleheader
$1 Vienna Beef hot dogs will be available.
Skokie Indian Little League Day (AA and AAA)
Free admission for kids wearing SILL jersey. $1 admission for friends and family.
Scout Day
$1 admission for Scouts, Friends, and Family.
Postgame Base Race (kids 13 and under, between games)
Postgame Autograph Session (on field, all players, following game 2)
Sunday, May 9 vs. Illinois - 1 p.m.
Ice Cream Sunday
Specially-priced Ice Cream Products will be available.
Skokie Indian Little League Day (Majors and Pony)
Free admission for kids wearing SILL jersey. $1 admission for friends and family.
Postgame Base Race
Postgame Autograph Session (on field, all players)
ALL GAMES:
1. Wildcat Lucky Numbers
All game programs will contain a lucky number. A sponsored lucky number will be called for a prize after select innings. Prizes will be redeemed at the press box.
2. Wildcat Baseball Trivia
A Wildcat baseball trivia question will be read in the middle of the 3rd inning of every game. The first person to make it to the press box with the correct answer will win a prize.
3. United Airlines Grand Slam Roundtrip Sweepstakes
A designated inning each game will be the United Airlines Grand Slam Roundtrip Sweepstakes. A lucky # program will win a roundtrip for two on United if a Wildcat player hits a grand slam in that inning.
4. NUsports.com Roundtrip T-shirt Toss
A Northwestern Athletics t-shirt will be tossed into the crowd after every Wildcat Home Run. (sponsored by NUsports.com)
