How do you spell relief?

According to the popular ad campaign, R-o-l-a-i-d-s.

For the NIU baseball team it has been G-e-r-m-a-n.

As in Matt German, the lefty who has yet to allow an earned run in 13 innings of relief work.

“Every time I take the mound, I expect not to give up a run,” German said.

German has posted 18 strikeouts and allowed only three hits.

The junior from Aurora has collected two saves and has held opponents to a .068 batting average.

“Matt is really competing, he is not afraid of hitters, and has a great mound presence,” NIU coach Ed Mathey said. “We wish we could have got him into more games. That means we would have had more leads.”

Warm Spring

Jeff Thomas blistered the pitches he saw on the Spring Break trip and has taken the team lead with a .386 batting average and a .463 on-base percentage.

The sophomore outfielder said the key to his success comes from offseason adjustments and his ability to put the ball in play.

“I widened my stance out since last year,” Thomas said. “It has helped me to see the ball better and recognize pitches more.”

Thomas has racked up a team-high 22 hits.

Too hot in Nevada for pitchers

In the five-game series with Nevada, the NIU pitching staff surrendered 53 runs.

Mathey said Nevada is a power hitting team built to suit its ball park. The thin, dry air at a raised elevation combined with a gusty wind that was blowing out was a hitter’s paradise.

Despite a 1-7 record on the West Coast swing, Mathey said NIU picked up valuable experience.

“We got a chance to put players in situations we haven’t seen them in,” Mathey said. “Being in a game situation is a great teaching tool, and we saw our guys go out there and play hard.”

Selling the shirts off their backs

The NIU baseball team will be at Fatty’s Pub & Grille, 1312 W. Lincoln Highway, Wednesday night to auction the green jerseys worn on St. Patrick’s Day.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the auction will begin at 7:15 p.m.

Players, coaches and alumni will be on hand for an interactive meet and greet with patrons. NIU merchandise, including the green hats worn on St. Patrick’s Day will be for sale.

For more information, contact the baseball office at 753-0147.

The big red machine

Second baseman Marc Besteman tied the NIU hit record on St. Patrick’s Day with five singles. The junior from Ontario has upped his average to .293.

Going yard

Senior outfielder Brian Toner exceeded his 2005 home run total when he jacked a solo shot to left center to lead off the fifth inning in Nevada’s 13-9 win on St. Patrick’s Day.

Toner went four for five and scored four runs. Toner leads the team with 29 total bases and is tied for the team lead with 13 runs scored.