Junior left fielder Anthony Wycklendt stands in the batter’s box, waiting for it — the fastball away.
Then he sees it on a 3-1 count. The right-handed hitter’s 31-ounce bat sweeps through the air and meets the ball with a hard ping, sending it more than 350 opposite-field feet away.
Suddenly a one-run deficit turned into a one-run lead against Bradley on Wednesday.
Wycklendt, whose home run total accounts for half of all round-trippers hit this season by the Wildcats, is the resident slugger at Northwestern — a place where power never has been easy to come by.
“That’s what he brings to the table,” NU coach Paul Stevens said of Wycklendt, who is tied for second in the Big Ten with six home runs in 30 games. “When you’ve got that individual in the lineup that can do that … you’re always one swing away (from) being right back in it.”
With cool temperatures and a steady left-field breeze coming off Lake Michigan at Rocky Miller Park, would-be home runs typically fall into the gloves of outfielders.
But halfway through his third year, Wycklendt already is tied for 10th on NU’s all-time home run list with 18 in 111 games. And while he’s not on pace to reach it, a hot streak through his senior season could get Wycklendt within reach of Eric Mogentale’s record of 36.
It’s mostly about hitting to the opposite field, Wycklendt said, where he has sent five of this year’s six homers.
“Most guys like the ball inside so they can turn on it,” said Wycklendt, who also is hitting .330 with 25 RBIs. “So once you establish that you can hit the inside pitch pretty well, most pitchers are going to try to throw a lot of junk down and away.”
And when a batter is looking for that away pitch, which Wycklendt said he now prefers, it leads to more power to the opposite field.
“When Wycklendt steps to the plate, every pitcher has to hope that the wind is against him and the fences are deep,” senior reliever Chris Davidson said.
If not, Wycklendt could use that fastball away to climb another spot on NU’s all-time long ball list — something he said he would welcome.
“Chicks dig the long ball,” Wycklendt said with a laugh. “That commercial doesn’t lie. They love it.”
Reach Patrick Dorsey at [email protected].