The usual starting pitchers do not throw, the opponents are not well known, and the games do not count toward the Big Ten tournament. But the seven midweek games the Northwestern baseball team played this season were anything but routine.
The Wildcats (22-25, 12-13 Big Ten) finished 4-3 in the midweek contests after defeating Illinois-Chicago 4-3 on Tuesday.
“Tuesday games are either exactly what you need or your worst nightmare,” senior Gabe Ribas said. “We saw a little of both this year.”
NU started with a loss to Chicago State on April 2 but came back with two wins against Valparaiso and a victory in the rematch with the Cougars. The Cats lost one-run games in consecutive weeks to Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Western Michigan before their victory over the Flames.
“After the Chicago State loss, we really changed our attitude,” NU right fielder Brandon Ackley said. “We woke up and started playing better.”
In the seven games, outfielder David Gresky, who had an RBI double Tuesday, led the team with 11 hits and eight RBIs. Second baseman Eric Roeder had nine hits and seven RBIs in the midweek matchups.
Pitchers Dan Pohlman and Andy Adams combined for all of the team’s Tuesday victories. Adams was 2-0 and pitched 22 2/3 innings.
“Andy wanted to start those midweek games, and he did a good job shutting teams down,” Cats catcher Ken Padgett said. “He helped save our bullpen for the weekend, and he would be ready to come back out of the bullpen for the weekend series.”
Six to One: NU freshman shortstop Jon Mikrut recorded his third save in Tuesday’s win. Mikrut has not allowed a run in nine innings on the mound this season.
“He has ice cubes in his veins,” NU coach Paul Stevens said. “Nothing bothers him. He has a great demeanor.”
The freshman from Wauconda pitched in high school and has eight strikeouts and one walk this season.
“I like to get ahead in the count and get control of the batter,” Mikrut said. “I love going out to the mound and I like coming in relief.”
When Mikrut takes the hill, the Cats have turned to fellow freshman Chris Hayes to fill the void. Hayes has not committed an error in his nine games played at short.
“Hayes is a natural out there and looks like he has played for 30 years and is an All-Star,” Ackley said. “He’s money at short, and we lose nothing on defense.”
Making mcGood: Freshman Pat McMahon knocked in the winning run Tuesday with a two-out pinch-hit single. McMahon has nine hits in only 28 at-bats this season.
“Pat gives us power coming off the bench,” Padgett said. “He hits the ball hard and he battles.”
The catcher, who hails from suburban Mundelein, has hit the ball hard this year. He has one home run and two doubles to go along with his three RBIs.
“I’m a fastball hitter and I’ll go after the first pitch if it’s a strike,” McMahon said. “I’m not used to coming off the bench, and pinch-hitting is difficult.”
Around the Horn: Opposing batters are hitting .193 against freshman relief pitcher J.A. Happ. … The Cats are 5-0 when Padgett hits a home run. … Eric Roeder has been successful in 9 of 10 stolen base attempts. … Jason Krynski leads the team with a .522 slugging percentage. … Ackley has started all 47 games for NU. … Ryan Bos has the second-best ERA in conference play at 2.36. … Ribas is third in the Big Ten in strikeouts with 53.
