Nathan Lindquist: Let's face it. The college game is high-scoring, so pitching comes and goes. NIU needs to keep the bats alive and play much more solid defense than last year.

Jim Nokes: High-scoring games are a massive headache for coaches and pitching staffs. NIU must do two things to succeed; have starters that go deep into the game, and count on a deep bullpen.

NL: But the starters were getting lit like Roman candles over Spring Break and the team ERA is at 5.84. If you don't score six runs a game to counter, you won't even have a .500 team.

JN: Remember that was against West Coast teams. Nevada beat us up. They have a Murderers Row lineup designed to fit their Crackerjack box ballpark. Plus, it's in thin air where the desert wind blows out. Trevor Feeney did manage to beat San Jose State 2-1.

NL: These college guys have been playing since they were learning the alphabet and swinging bats that hit pitches like it was a racquetball game. Point is: last year's team had a .271 batting average compared to the opponent's .324.

JN: But this year, NIU returns 13 of 14 pitchers. Brian Smith and Nick Hall are a dynamic duo and that gives NIU an elite weekend rotation. Side-winding Mark Badgley is a solid set up man, and Matt German has wickedly filthy stuff as a closer.

NL: No denying that. But what makes the engine run is Scott Simon. He missed 42 games last season and he's making up for it now by hitting .360 with 21 RBIs. With him in the three spot, he's energized Brian Toner and Jesse Seykora to have career years behind him.

JN: Absolutely. The charismatic Toner and leader-by-example Simon also have another responsibility as upperclassmen; prepare a plethora of new players for the toughest schedule that any MAC team will play.

NL: Well those youngsters need to grow up quick. Last year's squad had a .941 fielding percentage — dead last in the MAC. This is a new group, though, and they haven't let it beat them yet.

JN: That's because of the solid leadership in the dugout from skipper Ed Mathey provides and the peer leadership of Toner, Simon and Hall.

NL: You had to feel sorry for Mathey last year. After two good years, last year must have felt like it lasted 1,000 years. It seems he's gone back to basics as it were — bunting, hit and runs, stolen bases. He's helping put the team in a better position to win.

JN: And he's doing it White Sox style, solid pitching and a speedy lineup that doesn't threaten the long ball, but they apply copious amounts of pressure to the opposition's defense. In only four seasons, Mathey has 90 career wins, good for 6th all time on the NIU baseball career-wins list.

NL: This team is lacking the long ball, but who says that's a bad thing? They're hitting the cover off the ball; 50 hits last weekend. Line drives and small ball are fashionable. But they can't ignore the home run forever if they find themselves down late in games.

JN: Well, if the staff does let them down, let's hope that with the advent of warmer weather the shots off the wall start flying over and turn into home runs. If the staff throws ground balls, and the chemistry between upperclassmen and newcomers continues to fester, NIU can become MAC champs.