Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, March 16
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
2:05 p.m.
Northwestern
at
Central Michigan
SCHEDULE UPDATE: Northwestern Travels to Central Michigan
3/15/2018 2:28:00 PM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern baseball heads to Central Michigan for three games this weekend following a successful opening in Evanston last week. The Wildcats will battle CMU on Friday, March 16 at 2:05 p.m. CT, before playing a doubleheader on Saturday, March 17, beginning at 11 a.m. CT.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern opened up the home portion of its 2018 campaign last weekend with wins over MacMurray College and Judson. The Wildcats took their home opener, 6-3, over MacMurray due in large part to sophomore pitcher Hank Christie throwing six scoreless innings.
The 'Cats then powered past Judson with an 11-1 decision. Northwestern scored ten of those runs in the first three innings and then the #B1GCats' pitching staff struck out 12 players, the most in a regular-season game since May 13, 2017, at Maryland.
BIG BOURBON
Junior first baseman Willie Bourbon continues to lead the 'Cats at the plate this season. Bourbon, who has started every game this season, ranks in the top five of the Big Ten for home runs (4;5th), RBI per game (1.17;4th), slugging percentage (.714;4th) and runs per game (1.17;3rd).
BEASTING FROM THE BULLPEN
Senior Tommy Bordignon had a statement performance when the 'Cats played Texas two weeks ago. Entering the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, with the Wildcats leading 5-2, Bordignon shut down the final nine batters for the Longhorns. With five strikeouts in three innings, Bordignon's key performance mirrored that of his save against Central Michigan last season.
TOASTING TRIPLES
The #B1GCats continue to dominate the Big Ten in triples, with eight (.67 triples per game) on the season. Northwestern's eight triples rank first in the Big Ten and sixth nationally, and the .67 per game mark is the best in the country. David Dunn leads the team with three triples, while teammates Willie Bourbon and Charlie Maxwell each have two and Casey O'Laughlin has one.
SWIPIN' BAGS
With 32 stolen bases in 36 attempts, the 'Cats are dominating the base paths this season. Northwestern's 2.67 stolen bases per game is the seventh highest mark in the country and tops the Big Ten.
Alex Erro and Jack Dunn lead the Wildcats and the conference with eight steals each. The duo ranks 15th nationally.
DUNN AND DUNN
The brother combination of Jack and David Dunn has been productive to open the 2018 campaign. J. Dunn leads the team in hits, with 14, while D. Dunn has the third most for the Wildcats with 11 knocks. Both are slugging north of .400 (D. Dunn - .529 // J. Dunn - .413) and each have driven in at least five runs (J. Dunn – 8 // D. Dunn – 5).
ON THE BUMP
Associate head coach/pitching coach Josh Reynolds has tabbed Quinn Lavelle (1-1, 3.21 ERA), Hank Christie (1-2, 7.56 ERA), and Jack Pagliarini (1-0, 4.05 ERA) as starters for the weekend's match ups.
Lavelle last pitched against No. 23 Texas, where he helped the team to a 6-2 series-opening win over the Longhorns when he tossed 4.1 innings and only allowed five hits and one earned run.
Christie will make his 20th career start this weekend. The sophomore right-hander has fanned 11 in 16.2 innings of work this season. Christie struck out a season-best six in the win against MacMurray College last time out.
Pagliarini returns to the mound after a career day last week. Pitching against Judson, Pagliarini struck out eight players in just six frames and allowed only one run during that time to earn the first victory of his career.
THE OPPONENTS
Central Michigan enters the series 2-13-1 after finishing last year with a 31-28 record, which included winning the MAC West Division.
Northwestern and Central Michigan squared off last season at Miller Park with the Chippewas taking three out of four games. Jack Dunn and Alex Erro each tallied five hits against CMU in the series last season. Dunn was responsible for five RBI of NU's 12 RBI in the series.
COMING UP
Following the weekend set, Chicago's Big Ten Team returns home to open up Big Ten play when Illinois visits Miller Park for a three-game set on March 23-25.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern opened up the home portion of its 2018 campaign last weekend with wins over MacMurray College and Judson. The Wildcats took their home opener, 6-3, over MacMurray due in large part to sophomore pitcher Hank Christie throwing six scoreless innings.
The 'Cats then powered past Judson with an 11-1 decision. Northwestern scored ten of those runs in the first three innings and then the #B1GCats' pitching staff struck out 12 players, the most in a regular-season game since May 13, 2017, at Maryland.
BIG BOURBON
Junior first baseman Willie Bourbon continues to lead the 'Cats at the plate this season. Bourbon, who has started every game this season, ranks in the top five of the Big Ten for home runs (4;5th), RBI per game (1.17;4th), slugging percentage (.714;4th) and runs per game (1.17;3rd).
BEASTING FROM THE BULLPEN
Senior Tommy Bordignon had a statement performance when the 'Cats played Texas two weeks ago. Entering the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, with the Wildcats leading 5-2, Bordignon shut down the final nine batters for the Longhorns. With five strikeouts in three innings, Bordignon's key performance mirrored that of his save against Central Michigan last season.
TOASTING TRIPLES
The #B1GCats continue to dominate the Big Ten in triples, with eight (.67 triples per game) on the season. Northwestern's eight triples rank first in the Big Ten and sixth nationally, and the .67 per game mark is the best in the country. David Dunn leads the team with three triples, while teammates Willie Bourbon and Charlie Maxwell each have two and Casey O'Laughlin has one.
SWIPIN' BAGS
With 32 stolen bases in 36 attempts, the 'Cats are dominating the base paths this season. Northwestern's 2.67 stolen bases per game is the seventh highest mark in the country and tops the Big Ten.
Alex Erro and Jack Dunn lead the Wildcats and the conference with eight steals each. The duo ranks 15th nationally.
DUNN AND DUNN
The brother combination of Jack and David Dunn has been productive to open the 2018 campaign. J. Dunn leads the team in hits, with 14, while D. Dunn has the third most for the Wildcats with 11 knocks. Both are slugging north of .400 (D. Dunn - .529 // J. Dunn - .413) and each have driven in at least five runs (J. Dunn – 8 // D. Dunn – 5).
ON THE BUMP
Associate head coach/pitching coach Josh Reynolds has tabbed Quinn Lavelle (1-1, 3.21 ERA), Hank Christie (1-2, 7.56 ERA), and Jack Pagliarini (1-0, 4.05 ERA) as starters for the weekend's match ups.
Lavelle last pitched against No. 23 Texas, where he helped the team to a 6-2 series-opening win over the Longhorns when he tossed 4.1 innings and only allowed five hits and one earned run.
Christie will make his 20th career start this weekend. The sophomore right-hander has fanned 11 in 16.2 innings of work this season. Christie struck out a season-best six in the win against MacMurray College last time out.
Pagliarini returns to the mound after a career day last week. Pitching against Judson, Pagliarini struck out eight players in just six frames and allowed only one run during that time to earn the first victory of his career.
THE OPPONENTS
Central Michigan enters the series 2-13-1 after finishing last year with a 31-28 record, which included winning the MAC West Division.
Northwestern and Central Michigan squared off last season at Miller Park with the Chippewas taking three out of four games. Jack Dunn and Alex Erro each tallied five hits against CMU in the series last season. Dunn was responsible for five RBI of NU's 12 RBI in the series.
COMING UP
Following the weekend set, Chicago's Big Ten Team returns home to open up Big Ten play when Illinois visits Miller Park for a three-game set on March 23-25.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballBaseball - 'Cats Take Down No. 14 UCLA, 9-4 (5/15/25)
Friday, May 16
Baseball - Wildcats Top Beacons, 12-4 (5/13/25)
Wednesday, May 14
Baseball - Northwestern Run-Rules Ohio State to Secure Series (5/11/25)
Sunday, May 11
Baseball - Wildcats Run-Rule Buckeyes at Wrigley Field (5/9/25)
Saturday, May 10
