April 12, 2012

Northwestern (10-19, 3-6 Big Ten) at Minnesota (17-17, 3-3 Big Ten)
Friday, April 13, 2012
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Minneapolis, Minn. • 6:35 p.m.
Gametracker

Saturday, April 14, 2012
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Minneapolis, Minn. • 2:05 p.m.
Gametracker

Sunday, April 15, 2012
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Minneapolis, Minn. • 1:05 p.m.
Gametracker

In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Northwestern Game Notes (PDF)

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern plays its first of two straight Big Ten weekends on the road as it travels to Minneapolis to face Minnesota at the Metrodome. This is the second straight year that the Wildcats have faced the Golden Gophers on the road, though last year's series was played at Target Field.

Friday's series-opener gets underway at 6:35 p.m., while the contests on Saturday and Sunday begin at 2:05 and 1:05 p.m., respectively.

The series features two of the top pitching staffs in league play so far this season as Minnesota ranks second in the conference with a 3.12 staff ERA, while NU is fourth a 3.50. The Gophers are second in Big Ten play with an opponents' batting average of .241, while the Wildcats are tied for first with 25 batters struck out looking.

The matchup features the two longest-tenured head coaches in the Big Ten as John Anderson is in his 31st season at the helm at Minnesota and Paul Stevens is in his 25th at NU.

Northwestern is looking to bounce back from a trio of losses to 19th-ranked Purdue last weekend as well as a 9-3 defeat at the hands of St. Xavier on Tuesday. Freshman right-hander Brandon Magallones leads the Big Ten with 21 strikeouts in league play, while senior righty Francis Brooke is first with 11 strikeouts looking against conference foes.

Scouting Minnesota
The Golden Gophers (17-17, 3-3 Big Ten) opened Big Ten play with a three-game sweep of Michigan before dropping all three games at Ohio State last weekend. Minnesota played a string of 27 consecutive home games prior to heading out on the road to play the Buckeyes as well as a Wednesday contest at South Dakota State. Dan Olinger leads the team with a .350 batting average, nine doubles and 17 RBI. On the mound, TJ Oakes sports a 5-2 record and a 1.46 ERA.

Last Season: NU took two of three games from Minnesota at Target Field. The Gophers won Friday's opener, 7-4, before the 'Cats rallied late to win 4-1 on Saturday and 4-3 on Sunday.

Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday
RHP Francis Brooke (1-3, 3.38 ERA, 50.2 IP) vs. RHP TJ Oakes (5-2, 1.46 ERA, 55.1 IP)
Saturday
RHP Brandon Magallones (5-1, 3.86 ERA, 42 IP) vs. LHP DJ Snelten (3-2, 2.36 ERA, 45.2 IP)
Sunday
RHP Zach Morton (1-6, 3.35 ERA, 51 IP) vs. RHP Austin Lubinsky (1-3, 3.83 ERA, 42.1 IP)

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