When NIU hitters faced new Huskies relief pitcher Trevor Wohlgemuth in practice before the season began, they told coach Ed Mathey how uncomfortable it was.

Wohlgemuth delivers the ball from a low three-quarters arm approach, where his ball looks to almost hit right-handed batters in the face at one point in his delivery, NIU assistant coach Tim McDonough said.

He has been wild at times this season, as evident by his four wild pitches and five hit batsmen in 12 2/3 innings, but that’s what makes him effective, Mathey said.

“He’s a little bit unconventional,” the second-year coach said. “That’s part of the reason why he’s difficult to pick up and difficult to hit. If he’s in the strike zone, he can miss one in the right spot, and it can work to his benefit.”

Wohlgemuth will try to use his wildness to his benefit when NIU (13-15 overall, 0-3 MAC) hosts Western Michigan (12-13, 3-0) for a three-game set this weekend at Ralph McKinzie Field.

Known as a groundball specialist, the North Central College transfer said he thinks his pitching style is similar to current Los Angeles Dodgers hurler Jeff Weaver.

The 6-foot-3 senior played under Mathey at North Central and decided to join his former coach at the Division-I level.

“I really liked playing for coach Mathey,” Wohlgemuth said. “Halfway through the year, I decided to make the change over to Northern, and I initially told the coaches at North Central I wasn’t going to be back. I talked to Coach Mathey, and he said he’d like to have me on the team.”

Wohlgemuth is 1-2 on the season with a 0.71 earned run average since making the change from playing at a Division-III school to NIU.

His funky motion and unorthodox delivery are the main reasons why this Huskies reliever has found success.

“I’ve been a firm believer in everyone’s style is unique – whatever works for them,” Wohlgemuth said. “This style works for me. I can’t really throw any other way to maximize my movement and velocity.”