Northwestern University Athletics
NU Takes on First-Place Gophers at Siebert Field
4/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 21, 2005
Northwestern Game Notes
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's baseball team is used to playing games on the road. Of NU's first 30 games, 25 of them have been away from Rocky Miller Park. This weekend is no different. The Wildcats travel to Minneapolis to take on the University of Minnesota in a four-game conference series at Siebert Field.
NU is coming off a four-game split at Purdue while the Gophers split a series at Penn State last weekend. The Wildcats enter the weekend tied for fifth place with Michigan State in the Big Ten with a 6-6 record. Minnesota is tied atop the conference standings with Illinois at 9-3.
NU is 5-3 on the road in the Big Ten this season, winning three games at Indiana and two games last week at Purdue. The Gophers are 7-1 at home in Big Ten action, with four of those games being played at the Metrodome. Minnesota is 3-1 at Siebert Field, 16-9 overall.
So far this season, Minnesota is hitting .290 in 33 games, which ranks seventh in the Big Ten. In league games, the Gophers lead the conference with a .324 batting average. NU ranks eighth overall, hitting .287 in 30 games and is sixth in the conference at .276 (12 games). NU has hit 12 home runs as a team and knocked in 150 RBI. Minnesota has 14 round-trippers and 146 RBI. NU has 51 doubles compared to 40 for the Gophers.
On the mound, Northwestern has a 4.13 ERA in 257.0 innings pitched. Minnesota has a 4.82 earned-run average, throwing 283.2 innings in 33 games. The Gopher staff has struck out 226 opposing batters compared to 177 for Northwestern. Minnesota also has shut out five different teams; NU has none.
Individually for Minnesota, David Hrncirik leads the squad with a .388 batting average in 121 at-bats. He tops the Gophers with 47 hits and is tied for first in the Big Ten with 18 stolen bases. Jake Elder is first in RBI, plating 22 in 30 starts. 2004 first-team All-Big Ten player Andy Hunter has a .318 average and leads the team with nine doubles. Mike Mee has a team-best four home runs.
The Gophers' top pitcher is Matt Loberg. Loberg owns a 2.70 ERA in seven starts and has thrown 50.0 innings this season. He is 5-3 and has struck out 30, compared to eight walks. John Gaub has a team-high 12 appearances, which includes a team-best three saves. His 1.42 ERA in 25.1 innings pitched is a team low. He also has 41 Ks.
Offensively for Northwestern, catcher Pat McMahon leads the team and is fourth in the Big Ten with a .404 batting average. The junior is hitting .423 in Big Ten play. McMahon has a team-high 44 hits and 24 runs scored in 28 starts. Junior Anthony Wycklendt leads the Wildcats with 25 runs batted in and is second on the team with a .330 average. In his last five games, Wycklendt is hitting .471 with a double and two home runs.
On the mound for NU, senior Chris Hayes is the man out of the bullpen. The right-hander is 6-for-6 in save opportunities and boasts a miniscule 0.98 ERA. Hayes is 2-0 on the year. Senior Evan Blesoff is coming off his best start of the season, defeating Purdue 3-2 last Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Andrew Smith is 10th in the Big Ten with a 3.30 ERA.
