Northwestern’s opponents have scored almost twice as many runs at NU has in the first eight games of the season.
The Wildcats (2-6) struggled to secure wins in the season’s first two weekends, and hitting may be the team’s issue.
“We had a great weekend to start the season last year, because our guys swung the bats very, very well,” coach Paul Stevens said. “This isn’t the same group of guys though. This is a group with younger, different guys. “
Steven’s young squad was expected to be led by last year’s starters. Junior Jake Goebbert ended last season boasting a .353 batting average, while sophomore Chris Lashmet stormed in as a true freshman batting .299. But through eight games, they have recorded batting averages of .250 and .179, respectively.
“Right now our outstanding hitters are just not doing some of the things they have in the past,” coach Stevens said. “Now does that mean that they’re not going to do that all year? No, it does not mean that at all. It just means that as soon as someone punches a hole in the ice it will start flowing. The runs will start pouring in on a more consistent basis.”
Either Goebbert or Lashmet had two-plus hit games in 14 of the team’s 21 wins last year.
“We’ve looked to these guys to drive in big runs at big times in a ballgame and that hasn’t happened as of yet,” Stevens said. But looking at the work they’ve done this week I’m looking forward to see how things progress this weekend. All you can do is go back to the drawing board and keep working, keep staying on top of things, and these guys do it. They never give up.”
Still, it’s early in the season, and NU will get another chance to test its progress when they face Kansas in a four-game series in Lawrence, Kan., this weekend.
Meanwhile, other players have stepped up to the plate. Junior designated hitter Kenneth Avila, who started just five games last year, leads the team with five runs and a .481 batting average. Freshman first baseman Paul Sneider boasts a .350 average and a team high five RBI.
“Kenny Avila has done a very good job creating a spark and opportunity for us,” Stevens said. “Trevor Stevens has done a good job creating a little pressure on the defense. Obviously Sneider has hit the ball very well. Those guys definitely have come through. But they are also table setters. The guys behind the wheel are definitely the Goebbert, Lashmet, Vercelli, and Noble. Those guys have to start coming through for us.”
But as Stevens put it, “these two gentlemen don’t understand the phrase ‘stop working.”
Lashmet said he has been disappointed in his performance, and has been working hard to improve. Lashmet’s only two hit-game however, led to one of NU’s two wins this season.
“Baseball is a game of highs and lows and right now I’m in a little slump,” Lashmet said. “I turned it around this weekend though. I swung the bat a lot better this weekend. I will plan on keep improving each and every weekend season will turn out way it should.”
The team hopes the hard work will pay off.
“The table has been set the last couple weeks,” Stevens said. “We just haven’t been able to clean it off.”
And cleaning up is exactly what they’re going to strive for against Kansas.
