Jeremy Gonzales will ride a 25.2 scoreless inning streak into Ohio for a Sunday start in the NIU baseball team’s three-game set with the Bobcats.

Gonzales earned National Pitcher of the Week honors earlier this week from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The senior right-hander threw a three-hit complete game shutout against Miami (OH) last Sunday. Gonzales is 4-4 on the season with a 4.28 ERA in 48.1 innings of work.

NIU head coach Ed Mathey is wary not to rely on Gonzales to provide what has become the norm on Sundays for the Huskies.

“The thing to remember is these guys are college players, not professionals,” Mathey said. “But Jeremy has really channeled his competitive edge these last few starts.”

The Huskies (15-16 overall, 6-3 MAC) extended their winning streak to four with a 4-2 win on Wednesday over Chicago State. Alex Jones knocked in the winning run in the top of the seventh inning. Closer Kyle Glancy took care of the ninth for his seventh save of 2011.

The day before in Normal, NIU took care of Illinois State 4-1 on the strength of a strong pitching performance from Iowa transfer Tony Manville.

Ohio (15-18, 2-7) comes into this weekend’s series after dropping a game to Eastern Kentucky 5-4 on Wednesday, and after being swept by Western Michigan last weekend. The Bobcats are led at the plate by Dan Ward and Taylor Emody. Ward leads Ohio with five home runs, while Emody has a team-high .319 batting average.

Right-hander Zach Oates will likely get the ball today for the Huskies. Mathey is looking to the senior to extend Ohio’s recent run of bad luck.

“On paper Ohio is a pretty good team. They seem to be having a tough time right now, but I can’t really put my finger on it as to why,” Mathey said. “They just seem to be on a run of facing people who have their number.”