Starter Ryan Myers had pitched a solid six innings against Indiana on April 8, giving up two runs on six hits.
But leading 4-2 in the seventh inning, he was starting to show signs of fatigue. After getting left fielder Jay Brant to fly out, Myers walked Hoosiers centerfielder Reggie Watson on four pitches.
Northwestern coach Paul Stevens called time and strode to the mound.
He took the ball from Myers and signaled to the bullpen. AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” came over the loud speakers at Rocky Miller Park.
Dan Schwartz was coming in to pitch.
“I’m trying to get people out,” Schwartz said. “If there’s going to be a bunt, I’ll try and throw strikes so they can get the bunt down and hopefully get the guy at third. If we need a strikeout, I’ll try and strike the guy out: whatever the situation calls for.”
This situation called for a double play, and Schwartz forced one on his second pitch.
“When Danny’s on, I’ve seen him be as effective as anybody,” Stevens said. “When he’s on, he’s very, very difficult to touch.”
Schwartz has been “on” for the Wildcats (12-20, 9-3 Big Ten) for most of the conference season. In fact, he’s been almost automatic.
The junior has a 1.17 ERA and has given up 13 hits in 15.1 innings against conference teams. He leads the team in appearances and is third in innings, behind starters Dan Brauer and George Kontos.
“Every time we run somebody out there, we’re looking to them to do their job,” Stevens said. “We’ve handed him the ball an awful lot of times in tough situations. If I’m handing someone the ball, I believe that they can do whatever I’m asking them to do.”
Outs have not always come so easily to Schwartz.
He put up a 5.80 ERA in 45 innings last year after transferring from Division-III Amherst College.
Schwartz said coming from a lower level put him in the wrong mindset to face Division-I hitters.
“I gave the hitters too much credit,” he said. “Over the summer, I threw a lot of innings and realized hitters get themselves out. All you have to do is let them do that.”
Even with this realization, Schwartz had his struggles at the beginning of the year.
After going 7.1 innings without an earned run, Schwartz gave up 11 in his next 6.2 innings, raising his ERA to 7.07.
“I had trouble in the middle of the season with concentration and focusing on my spots, and it really showed,” Schwartz said. “I’ve just been trying to focus on where I’ve been lucky, which has been down and away.”
Since then, Schwartz has a 0.98 ERA in 18.1 innings and has been one of the team’s most flexible pitchers.
Brauer, who threw with Schwartz on rehab assignments last summer, said he’s seen an evolution in Schwartz’s game.
“He’s developed a lot,” he said. “He’s throwing the ball a lot harder and with a little more purpose.
“He’s becoming more of a pitcher than just a thrower.”
Schwartz has worked in a variety of situations for the Cats this year, even throwing 94 pitches in going 6.1 relief innings in Saturday’s win over Illinois.
“When (the coaches) start running me out in pressure situations, it shows that they believe in me,” he said. “And I appreciate that.”
As the conference season progresses, Stevens said the team will continue to look for Schwartz to be effective in tough situations.
Schwartz said that’s fine with him.
“As long as I get to pitch, I’m pretty much happy,” he said. “The only thing that really kills me is sitting on the bench.”
Reach David Morrison at [email protected].
