Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Opens 2010 Season at Bojangles Baseball Classic
2/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 18, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern gets its 2010 baseball season underway Friday as it participates in the 2010 Bojangles Baseball Classic hosted by Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. The Wildcats open their campaign at 11:30 a.m. CT by taking on George Mason followed by a contest against host Winthrop at 3 p.m. Play continues through Sunday.
NU faces Marist at 4 p.m. before wrapping up the Classic with a second game against George Mason at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Live stats for all four games can be accessed .
Northwestern welcomes back six individuals who were regular starters a year ago. Senior Chad Noble returns behind the plate, having already established himself as one of the top defensive catchers in the Big Ten. Sophomore first baseman Paul Snieder is back after ranking second on the team last season with six home runs. Classmate Trevor Stevens is the incumbent at second base and led the team with 54 hits in 2009. Junior Chris Lashmet is back at the hot corner and leads all NU returners with nine doubles and 30 RBI a year ago. Outfielder Quentin Williams appeared in 33 games and started 28 as a freshman last season and socked four round-trippers. Also returning to the outfield is senior Kenneth Avila who led the squad with a .298 batting average in 2009.
Headlined by junior left-hander Eric Jokisch, Northwestern returns a solid nucleus to the mound in 2010. The 2008 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Jokisch is coming off a solid summer that saw him be named an all-star in the prestigious Cape Cod League. Senior left-handers Joe Muraski and David Jensen also return to the 'Cats as projected starters. Muraski led all Wildcats with 65 strikeouts last season, while Jensen paced the team with 20 appearances. A pair of sophomores lead the way in the bullpen. Michael Jahns, who could also move into a starting role, led the squad with a 3.56 ERA in 17 appearances in 2009. Meanwhile, Francis Brooke finished right behind Jahns with a 3.68 ERA. Zach Morton made 12 starts as a freshman a year ago, but is expected to move to the bullpen while spending the majority of his time at shortstop. Yet another sophomore, Paul Snieder, is slated to join Morton in late-game situations. Other returners also figuring into the mix are juniors Matt Gailey and Cole Livermore.
Northwestern welcomes four freshmen to this year's squad. Arby Fields is slated to hold down center field, while Colby Everett is expected to see time at both third and second base. Jack Havey, brother of 2009 graduate Matt Havey, will see time at both first base and on the mound. Fellow right-hander Luke Ferrell also will add depth to the pitching staff.
The Wildcats had the good fortune of playing games at two Major League Baseball parks a year ago. That will be the case again this season. In 2009, Northwestern took on Minnesota in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The 'Cats return to the Metrodome March 5-7 to participate in the Dairy Queen Classic at the now former home of the Minnesota Twins. NU also faced off against Notre Dame at U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox) last season and this year is playing a doubleheader against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Miller Park April 28. The twinbill follows a game between the host Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
For the second consecutive year, the Big Ten tournament is being held in Columbus, Ohio. Last year, the tournament was held at the brand-new Huntington Park, the home of the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. The tournament makes the move to Bill James Stadium this season, the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and is slated to be held May 26-30.
