NIU lefthander Mark Skrukrud’s approach on the mound is to make the hitters put the ball in play like major leaguer Tom Glavine does, who Skrukrud models his demeanor on the mound after.

“He’s been stellar for 12, 13 years now,” Skrukrud said of Glavine. “He’s not a hard thrower, I’m not a hard thrower. We just try and throw strikes and allow our defense to do the work.”

Skrukrud, NIU’s No. 1 starter, gives opponents no way to base except by swinging. Getting a walk out of this lefty is practically impossible. He has walked just eight batters in 58 and two-third innings pitched, while striking out 51 hitters.

This weekend, Skrukrud will have his work cut out for him as the Huskies (22-14, 8-4 MAC) will travel to Oxford, Ohio, to take on the RedHawks for a four-game series.

The 6-foot-1 lefty will take the mound for the Huskies in the first game of the series today at 3 p.m. where he will try to end an eight-game win streak by Miami (22-16-1, 9-3 MAC).

“Mark Skrukrud has just been solid, consistent all year,” NIU coach Ed Mathey said. “We’re anticipating that to continue and for him to get us off to a good start to the series.”

In his last start against Bowling Green on April 18, the senior co-captain pitched a six hit, complete game. He walked one Falcon and struck out eight.

Skrukrud is fifth in the MAC in innings pitched and tied for fourth in strikeouts. He is 3-0 in conference games this season, completing each of the three. He has allowed just four runs and three walks while striking out 17 in conference games.

“Mark’s a very heady pitcher,” Mathey said. “He knows how to pitch the game, and he’s got a great feel for hitters and how to pitch to hitters. Even when he doesn’t have his best stuff, he finds a way to keep you in a ball game.”