The NIU baseball team has been without star-hitter Scott Simon for seven games this season because of a wrist injury.

The junior infielder, who led the MAC in doubles and RBIs last season, had his first at-bat since March 15 in a pinch-hit plate appearance in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s game against Northern Iowa.

Simon took time after NIU’s 4-3, 15-inning loss to UNI to chat about his wrist and facing pitching for the first time in two weeks.

Northern Star: How’s the wrist feeling?

Scott Simon: It’s feeling a lot better. It was kind of weird going out there because I haven’t swung in so long. Today when I swung, I was kind of late.

NS: How did the wrist strain happen?

SS: When we played Louisville [March 15], it was during my second at-bat, I fouled a pitch off to left field and just the way I came through the zone, I strained my wrist.

NS: Looks like the team could use your 71 RBIs from last year.

SS: I think we’ve got a lot of guys that can step up. So many guys can play on this team, it’s not just one guy. Guys were getting on base for me last year, so I just had the opportunity to drive in runs.

NS: So did you expect to get that many RBIs last year?

SS: I don’t think you can really expect to hit that many RBIs in a year. They just did a great job of leading off the innings when I was hitting.

NS: You pinch hit today. Was that an expected thing, or did coach Ed Mathey surprise you?

SS: I talked to Coach Mathey before the game, and he said that if there was an opportunity, he’d get me in there. Hopefully I’ll play later this week.

NS: You hit an RBI infield single today, and you had a bit of a rough slide into first base. We’re you at all worried that you would aggravate your wrist?

SS: That didn’t really cross my mind, I was just trying to get on base. I was trying to do anything to get on.