Northwestern baseball is coming off a 30-20 overall and 19-7 in GPAC conference play. The Raiders took home regular season and conference championship honors in 2018. The Raiders open their season with a four game series against Colombia College in Topeka, KS. Northwestern was originally slated to play down in Joplin, MO on Friday and Saturday, but due to cold temperatures in the forecast were forced to move games dates and location.

Around the Diamond

Catcher

-Zachary Rosson (Jr.) returns behind the dish after hitting .341 with six doubles, one triple, and three homeruns, while driving in 22 runs. Rosson was a 1st team all GPAC selection.

-Jonah Newman (Jr.) and Isaac Thurm (Fr.)will be backing up Rosson to give the Raiders some depth at Catcher.

1st Base

-Austin Zylstra (Sr.) returns to the diamond after missing the 2018 season due to injury. Zylstra a career .271 hitter had nine doubles, four homeruns, and 28 RBI's during his sophomore year season.

-Josh Fakkema (Jr.) and Noa Vogel (Fr.) will also see time at first base this season.

2nd Base

-Mason O'Donnell (Sr.) will see plenty of time at second base in 2019. O'Donnell in limited at bats in 2018 hit .429.

-Evan Olesen (Fr.) will continue to push for ways into the lineup.

Shortstop

-Trent Thinesen (Sr.), Drew Schutt (Jr.), and Andrew Mescher (Fr.) will all be competing for chances at short. 

3rd Base

-Ben De Boer (So.) returns after starting in 16 games last season. De Boer hit .237 with one triple and ten RBI's.

-Thinesen, Schutt, Mescher all could also see time.

Outfield

-A.J. Nitzschke (Sr.) hit .261 last season with one double, four triples, three homeruns, and drove in 19 runs. Nitzschke had a on base percent last season of .399. Nitzschke made 48 starts in 2018.

-Colton Harold (Jr.) hit .273 with 11 doubles and 28 RBI's in 2018. Harold made 41 starts.

-Britton Yoder (So.) made only two starts last season, but played in 43 games. Yoder scored 26 runs for the Raiders, also added eight stolen bases.

-Sutton Derr (So.), Alex Fuhs (Fr.), Tanner Oleson (Fr.), and Noa Vogel (Fr.) will also contribute to the team in the outfield.

Pitchers

-Alec Rickabaugh (Jr.) leads the way for the returners on the mound with 42.1 innings pitched last season. Rickabaugh had a 4.25 ERA in seven games started with one complete game. Rickabaugh was also a GPAC honorable mention pitcher in 2017.

-Ben Zeutenhorst (So.) pitched in three games last year totaling six scoreless innings. Zeutenhorst gave up two total hits and struck out three.

-Mason O'Donnell (Sr.) threw 14.1 innings and was 2-0 on the season. O'Donnell was second on the team in games pitched last season with 13.

-Shadrach Wacker (Sr.), A.J. Nitzschke (Sr.), Trent Thinesen (Sr.), CJ Gordon (Sr.), Colton Harold (Jr.), Luke Hughes (Jr.), Jonah Newman (Jr.), Zachary Rosson (Jr.), Mitchell Diekevers (So.), Sutton Derr (So.), Brady Roberts (Fr.), Ryan Reynolds (Fr.), Liam Stubbe (Fr.), and Evan Olesen (Fr.) all will look to find ways to contribute to the Raider pitching staff this season.


Raiders take on Columbia College

2/13 at 1:00pm and 3:30pm 

and

2/14 at 12:00pm and 2:30pm

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