Sitting in 10th place in the Mid-American Conference with a conference record of 5-16, NIU baseball holds a .364 winning percentage with 10 games left in its season. Despite a talented offense, the Huskies need to work out some inconsistencies and pitching struggles.
Here are my three most significant takeaways and hurdles to success from covering the team this season, and what its biggest hurdles are on the road to success.
EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE
As one of the best offenses in the MAC, NIU just broke the record for most home runs in a season, leading the conference with 73.
The duo of junior catcher Logan Gregorio and senior outfielder Gavin Baldwin sit at second and third on the MAC home run leaderboard, with 15 and 14 home runs respectively. Senior outfielder JP Gauthier sits tied for 12th in the conference with 9 home runs on the year.
Second in the conference in runs scored, the Huskies have reached double digits 13 times this season and scored more than 20 runs twice. NIU’s offense has proven it can produce runs in almost any situation, with its only shutout coming in the fifth game of the season against Southeast Missouri State University.
NIU also has three of the MAC’s top 20 RBI producers, with Greogrio, Baldwin and Gauthier leading the charge for the Huskies.
POOR PITCHING
NIU’s pitching staff sits second-to-last in the MAC with an ERA of 8.05 while also leading the conference in runs allowed.
No matter how many runs the offense is capable of scoring on a given day, a team can only win if supported by its starting pitcher and the bullpen.
Considered the ace of the pitching staff coming into the season, redshirt junior pitcher Adam Brouwer holds a 4.50 ERA, good for eighth in the MAC. With the second-lowest ERA on the team, the team needs pitchers like Brouwer to step up and deliver consistent performances.
NIU’s opening pitchers aren’t the only issue for the Huskies, as relief pitching is another struggle for this team.
In the Huskies’ match against Western Michigan University on April 25, Brouwer allowed 1 unearned run in three innings, with NIU taking a 9-1 lead. The bullpen then allowed 15 runs, leading to the Huskies ultimately falling 16-15.
Giving up 15 runs in six innings is difficult for even the most talented offenses to overcome, and it’s something that needs to be addressed if NIU wants to be a contender in the MAC next season.
Bullpen usage has been another issue for NIU, with the Huskies working too many pitchers out of the bullpen in mid-week matchups.
In Tuesday’s 18-15 loss at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, NIU utilized eight pitchers. Using that many bullpen arms is not sustainable, while also weakening the relief pitching options in conference series.
LACK OF CONSISTENCY
On its best days, this team has all the pieces to be a contender in the MAC, but a lack of consistency has been its downfall.
Earlier this month, the Huskies broke the record for most runs scored in a single game against Northwestern University, bringing home 27 runs in just seven innings.
In a three-game series against the University of Akron the following weekend, the Huskies scored 10 runs total.
This team has proven that they can be dangerous both at the plate and on the mound, but the lack of consistency makes it hard to be a threat in MAC play.
Despite their struggles, if the Huskies can continue their offensive firepower and straighten out their pitching, the team has a bright future ahead.
UP NEXT
The Huskies begin a three-game series against Eastern Michigan University at 2 p.m. Friday in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The game will be live-streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be updated on SideArm Stats.
