Baseball gets started on conference play

By Brian Earl

Baseball will look to kick off conference play on a positive note when it hosts Buffalo for a three-game series this weekend.

The Huskies (2-16-1) have been swinging the bats better as of late as they recorded 13 hits in their 8-7 victory against UIC on Tuesday. In their finale against Cal Poly on Sunday, the Huskies also recorded 17 hits.

Over the last four games, infielder Justin Fletcher has been the team’s hottest hitter, going 9-18 at the plate. He has recorded three multi-hit games in the process and drove two runs in.

Infielders Alex Klonowski and Brian Sisler are also swinging hot bats, each going 6-15 in their last four games, with Klonowski driving in five runs. Outfielder Landon Tenhagen has been coming up with timely hits as he has driven in five runs in his last two games, including a game-winning three-run homer against the Flames.

The Huskies will feature their usual three-game pitching rotation with Eli Anderson starting on Friday, Jordan Ruckman on the mound Saturday and Klonowski closing out the series on Sunday.

Anderson was solid in his last outing against Oregon State, going six innings while giving up five earned runs on eight hits. He also struck out five in the loss.

Ruckman has struggled in his two most recent starts, pitching just 2.2 innings in each outing. In those two starts he has surrendered 16 runs, 11 of them earned.

Klonowski gave his best performance of the season in his last start against Oregon State, pitching five scoreless innings while giving up just one hit and four walks.

The Bulls (8-6) have been struggling as of late, losing four of their last five games. They have been led at the player this season by infielder Tyler Mautner, who posts a .357 batting average and leads the team with 11 RBIs.

Due to weather conditions and Ralph McKinzie Field not being playable, the three games have been relocated. The games on Friday and Saturday will be played at Chicago State and the game on Sunday will be played at Wheaton College.