Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Spring Sports Guide

For coach Paul Stevens, Northwestern's success this season comes down to one thing.
"We've got to pitch," he said.
The task may seem simple, but it is easier said than done.
En route to a disappointing 18-36 campaign last season, including 9-24 in the Big Ten, NU's pitching struggled to keep the team in games. The rotation gave up the second-most hits in the Big Ten and finished with a 6.70 ERA, good for ninth of 10 teams in the conference (Wisconsin does not field a team).
As bad as last year was, this season may not be much better. The team lost last season's top-two starters, Ryan Myers and Dan Schwartz, to graduation. Thus, Stevens will be forced to rely on an inexperienced group.
To make matters worse, sophomore Cole Livermore, who led last year's team with four complete games, suffered an arm injury and will require season-ending surgery.
This leaves the lone returning starter, sophomore Joe Muraski, as the team's de facto ace. He will be followed by a rotation-by-committee, which likely will include seniors Matt Havey and Bo Schultz, who were both relievers last year. Still, they should give the rotation some much-needed experience.
"Though this staff is young, they have a veteran attitude," Schultz said. "My greatest influence is work ethic on and off the field … because when one of us succeeds we all succeed. We practice as a staff and we win as a staff."
While the presence of Schultz and Havey should boost the rotation, it will hurt an already depleted relief core. With some young arms on the mound, the bullpen may pitch a lot more innings coming off a season in which it posted an 11.37 ERA.
The rotation will also need help from a defense that committed 96 errors - most in the Big Ten - and finished last in the conference with a .950 fielding percentage.
"Defensively, I think we need to attack the ball a bit more," junior infielder Tommy Finn said. "Most teams would say, 'Let's have less errors,' but we want to be a team that makes the most plays."

Continued...

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