When the Northwestern baseball team heads into the Windy City today for a 3 p.m. contest against Chicago State, not only will two lineups cross paths, but so will two very different philosophies.
The Wildcats (12-12, 5-5 Big Ten) concentrate their attention on their conference play and think of nonconference midweek games, which don’t count towards a postseason invitation, as practices for their Big Ten weekend series.
But the Cougars (3-23) have a different outlook. Chicago State is a member of the Division I-AAA Mid-Continent Conference and doesn’t start its conference play until this weekend. Chicago State coach Terrence Jackson said regardless of his opponent’s record or league, he treats all teams the same.
But with only eight returnees from last season, Jackson’s young team doesn’t have much choice.
“If we weren’t such a new team, we would play more people and give our pitching staff time off before our conference games,” Jackson said. “But I have to play our best players to give them the experience of playing against good teams.”
After 17 of 25 Chicago State players graduated or decided to focus on academics after last year, Jackson was forced to replace them with new players — seven of whom joined the team in January.
Trying to find the best position for each new player has been a tough task for Jackson, who has started the same lineup only twice.
In contrast, the Cats use their midweek games to give bench players a chance to compete. Junior Dan Pohlman, usually a left fielder, is penciled in as the Cats’ starting pitcher against the Cougars.
Today’s trip to the mound will be Pohlman’s fourth pitching start of the season, but NU coach Paul Stevens said the junior, who has an 0-2 record, will benefit from the experience.
“I think he’ll bang along,” Stevens said.
The Cougars’ record reflects their inexperience. Jackson said his team got off to a slow start, but he is pleased with the way his team broke its 15-game losing streak at Cleveland State on Saturday.
“It was a relief to finally win,” Jackson said. “Hopefully we can build off of it in our conference.”
But don’t expect Chicago State to build up a lengthy winning streak, at least not if Stevens has his way.
“I hope we can start (the losing streak) again,” Stevens said. “We can’t let them get too comfortable.”
Jackson is also realistic about his team’s chances against NU, even though the Cougars came out smoking in Evanston last year. Chicago State built up an early 14-2 lead — helped by four first-inning runs — and held off the Cats long enough to win 15-12, on April 2, 2002.
“If we get a 14-2 lead this year, you’ll see me doing flips on the field,” Jackson said. “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”
Although the first-year head coach cites the Cougars’ pitching as “solid,” Jackson hesitates before naming a single player who could pose a threat to NU’s defense.
“Northwestern doesn’t have to worry about anyone,” Jackson said. “But if I had to choose a team leader, it would be center fielder Mike Slowik, who’s been our most consistent hitter.”
The junior knocked in two runs on Saturday in the Cougars’ 6-5 win over Cleveland State.
Jackson may not expect a Chicago State victory today, but anticipates more wins down the line.
“Our team just needs to stop the other teams from scoring,” Jackson said. “If we can hold a team to just a few runs, we’d be in better shape.”
