For just the second time in seven years, the Northwestern baseball team has added extra frames to its season.

“For us (upperclassmen) to go twice out of the five times the school has ever gone … we’re pumped,” NU senior Ryan Bos said.

But contrary to the wishes of many of the Wildcats, their trip to the Big Ten tournament also means a trip to the not-so-friendly confines of Minnesota’s Siebert Field, where NU has recorded 10 consecutive losses. Michigan State will try to continue that streak when it faces the Cats today at 3:30 p.m.

“We’re trying to ignore (the losing streak at Minnesota),” Bos said. “I don’t think I’ve ever won here. We’re trying to erase those bad memories.”

NU will attempt to improve on its last postseason experience, which came in 2000. The Cats made the same trip up to Minnesota, coming home after just two games in the double-elimination tournament.

The Cats qualified for this year’s six-team playoffs with two wins over Indiana last weekend in the final two games of the series. NU finished in a sixth-place tie with Illinois, but won the tiebreaker thanks to a 2-1 edge in its head-to-head matchups.

NU’s last-day entrance put the cap on a wild conference race that saw all six qualifiers finish within 4 1/2 games of each other. The tightness of the pack left no clear-cut favorite – a situation that has the Cats hopeful.

“The field is wide open,” freshman J.A. Happ said. “This year depends on who shows up to play.

“I definitely feel we have a chance. We have the pitching and we have the hitting. As long as we put both together both days, we have a great shot.”

Along with the team’s success, several players received individual accolades Tuesday when the All-Big Ten honorees were announced. Happ, a relief pitcher, was named to the first team, while Bos, a starting pitcher, and first baseman Travis Tharp were selected for the third team.

“It’s a nice personal note to end on, but it doesn’t really matter if we don’t do anything (in the tournament),” Tharp said. “Individual stuff is nice and all, but it should be about the team right now.”

NU is coming off two straight victories and the Spartans enter the tournament with a four-game win streak after sweeping Penn State in their final series.

Michigan State’s lineup features three All-Big Ten selections of its own, including co-Big Ten Player of the Year Bob Malek.

The Cats’ starting pitcher, senior Gabe Ribas, will have to contain Michigan State’s surging offensive attack. The Spartans – who lead the conference in virtually every offensive category – outscored the Nittany Lions 62-10 in their games at Penn State.

NU lost the season series to Michigan State 2-1. But the Cats hurlers were able to hold the Spartans to just three runs in two of the contests before Michigan State exploded for nine runs in the series finale.

Despite the Spartans’ recent offensive onslaught, Ribas has history to bolster his confidence. The senior got the win for the Cats in their lone victory of this year’s series, and he has not suffered a loss in three career starts against the Spartans.

As for the Cats’ preparation, it has consisted mostly of rest and relaxation.

“We’re taking it easy and having a nice time,” Tharp said. “We went to a Twins game and now we’re just trying to get our focus.”