Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Set to Compete in Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic
3/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 4, 2011
Saturday, March 5 vs. Eastern Illinois, 11 a.m.
Saturday, March 5 vs. Evansville, 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 6 vs. Evansville, 3 p.m.
Braun Stadium (1,200)
Evansville, Ind.
Live Stats: gopurpleaces.com
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern makes the trek to Evansville, Ind., Saturday and Sunday to participate in the Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic hosted by Evansville University.
The Wildcats are slated to take on Eastern Illinois at 11 a.m. Saturday followed by a 3 p.m. contest against Evansville. Northwestern and the Purple Aces are scheduled for a rematch at 3 p.m. Sunday.
NU (2-5) won one of three games in Winston-Salem, N.C., last weekend, defeating host Wake Forest 10-3 while dropping close decisions to Georgetown (7-5) and Towson (6-4).
The Wildcats have been paced by the trio of juniors Chris Kontos and Trevor Stevens and senior Chris Lashmet. Kontos leads the squad with a .400 batting average and four doubles. Stevens is batting .375 and has hit safely in all seven games to start the season. Lashmet sports a .370 average and is tied for first on the squad with four doubles and five RBI.
Northwestern ranks second in the Big Ten to only Purdue with 18 doubles and four triples through seven games.
On the mound, sophomore Luke Farrell is off to a solid start, earning victories in each of his first two starts. The right-hander has a 2.25 ERA and has struck out 14 batters in 12 innings pitched. Junior reliever Michael Jahns sports a 2.08 ERA with opposing batters hitting just .172 off of him.
Eastern Illinois (0-6) is still seeking its first win of the season after being swept at Central Arkansas and Southern Mississippi to open the campaign. Shawn Ferguson leads the Panthers with a .417 batting average. Reliever Brent McNeil hasn't allowed a run in three appearances this year. Eastern Illinois is projected to finish fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference this season. The Panthers posted an 18-35 mark, including 11-12 in the OVC, in 2010.
Evansville (3-4) has won three in a row since dropping its first four games of the season. Greg Wallace, a preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, is hitting a team-best .481 through the team's first seven contests. The Aces were picked to finish third in the MVC this season after going 32-27 overall and 10-11 in league play a year ago.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Saturday vs. Eastern Illinois - RHP Luke Farrell (2-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. LHP Adam Clark (0-2, 12.00 ERA)
Saturday vs. Evansville - LHP Dan Tyson (0-0, 7.88 ERA) vs. LHP Cole Isom (0-1, 12.38 ERA)
Sunday vs. Evansville - RHP Francis Brooke (0-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. TBA
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