What is a good Spring Break trip all about?

For the NIU baseball team, it will be sun instead of snow, growing up, California, Nevada and nine games in ten days.

“The trip helps to build maturity,” said senior pitcher Nick Hall. “Just like college puts students on their own, so does this trip. It’s almost like being a pro. For 10 days it’s all about accomplishing things as a team, there’s no homework or friends around.”

A five-game swing through California starts Friday with three games against St. Mary’s (9-7), a Monday tilt with San Jose State (9-8) and concludes with a two-game set with UC Davis (8-8).

Hall is not overly concerned with scouting reports, but said the pitching staff will benefit from so many games in a short span.

“The trip will have a positive effect on the young guys on the staff,” Hall said. “With the consecutive games, guys that haven’t seen as much time will get their chance to shine.”

NIU (4-5) will close out Spring Break with four-straight games at Nevada (4-11) March 16 through 19. Nevada has played three teams in Baseball America’s top 25, and knocked off Arizona State 12-8 on Feb. 12. No. 17 ASU took three straight from NIU to open the season.

NIU heads west with plenty of confidence and accolades in tow, having taken two-of-three games from a hot Southern Illinois team.

“We’ve shown we can get to a certain level,” Mathey said. “Now the question for our guys is, ‘can you get to that level, and keep it there, and push yourselves to stay there?'”

Both Hall and Mathey said the pitching staff with benefit from a defense that gets to more balls than they did in the past.

“With the defense we have, noting is out of reach,” Hall said. “Our defense is playing great right now and we’ve got a great chemistry going. If things keep clicking, I’m real excited about he season we could have.”