Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern and Minnesota Square Off at Target Field
4/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 14, 2011
Northwestern (9-20, 2-4 Big Ten) at Minnesota (10-13, 2-4 Big Ten)
Friday, April 15; 3:05 p.m.
Saturday, April 16; 3:05 p.m.
Sunday, April 17; 1:05 p.m.
Target Field (39,504)
Minneapolis, Minn.
Audio: WNUR 89.3 FM and sports.wnur.org
Gametracker: NUsports.com
In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Northwestern Game Notes (PDF)
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday
RHP Michael Jahns (1-3, 4.62 ERA, 25.1 IP, 15 K) vs. RHP TJ Oakes (2-4, 4.17 ERA, 41 IP, 23 K)
Saturday
RHP Luke Farrell (2-1, 4.30 ERA, 37.2 IP, 36 K) vs. LHP Phil Isaksson (1-3, 3.63 ERA, 34.2 IP, 12 K)
Sunday
LHP Dan Tyson (1-3, 6.42 ERA, 33.2 IP, 22 K) vs. RHP Austin Lubinsky (2-3, 6.23 ERA, 30.1 IP, 24 K)
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern plays in its fourth different Major League Baseball stadium in the last three years as it travels to Target Field in Minneapolis to face Minnesota. Friday's opener is slated for 3:05 p.m.
Saturday's contest is also slated for a 3:05 p.m. first pitch, while Sunday's finale gets underway at 1:05 p.m. All three games can be heard on 89.3 FM WNUR and online at sports.wnur.org.
The Wildcats played games at U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox) and the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minnesota Twins) in 2009 and at Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers) last season.
NU took the series finale of its three-game home set with Penn State last weekend. After Friday's opener was postponed due to rain, the Wildcats dropped Saturday's doubleheader by scores of 12-0 and 7-3. Northwestern bounced back to win Sunday's game 9-8, scoring three times in the bottom of the eighth, including getting a two-run, go-ahead single from Jack Havey. NU dropped a 6-3 decision at UIC on Tuesday despite having five relievers combine to allow just one hit over six innings of work.
The Wildcats won two of three games with the Golden Gophers in Evanston last season.
Scouting Minnesota
The Golden Gophers (10-13, 2-4 Big Ten) were swept in a conference series at Michigan State last weekend and dropped an 8-3 decision to St. Thomas on Wednesday. AJ Pettersen leads Minnesota with a .376 batting average. Phil Isaksson paces the starting pitchers with a 3.63 ERA, while reliever Scott Matyas hasn't allowed a run in 11 appearances and has allowed just three hits in 14.2 innings pitched. John Anderson is in his 30th year as the head coach of the Golden Gophers.
Going Streaking
Junior Paul Snieder enters this weekend's series on a tear. Over the team's last 15 contests, Snieder is batting .463 (25-54) with eight doubles and 17 RBI. He has nine multi-hit games over that span. In addition, both junior Trevor Stevens and senior Chris Lashmet have put together extended hitting streaks this year. Stevens started the 2011 season by hitting safely in the Wildcats' first 11 games, batting .447 (17-38) over that span. Lashmet collected at least one hit in nine straight games from March 11-23. He had at least two hits in five consecutive games during the streak.
Bramschriber Tabbed Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Northwestern right-hander Ethan Bramschreiber was honored as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week April 11. He shared the honor with Ohio State's Tim Wetzel. Bramschreiber earned the award based on his performance in the second game of a doubleheader with Penn State on Saturday. He came on in relief and hurled 4 2/3 innings, surrendering just one hit and two walks while retiring 10 of the first 11 batters he faced. Bramschreiber racked up six strikeouts, setting a new career high, and now leads all Northwestern pitchers with a season ERA of 1.62.
Youth is Being Served
Northwestern's roster is jam-packed with youth this season. Of the 26 players on the Wildcats' roster, 12 of them are freshmen.
Up Next...
The Wildcats return to action Tuesday when they open an 11-game homestand against Northern Illinois. After hosting Trinity International on Wednesday, NU takes on Purdue Friday through Sunday.
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