DEKALB – The NIU baseball team (8-19, 4-2 MAC) will host finish their four-game homestand with a midweek game against UW-Milwaukee (7-17, 0-9 Horinzon). The Huskies went 1-2 in their home opening series against Bowling Green last weekend, winning game one on Friday and dropping both ends of the double header on Saturday.
 
The Huskies will give the ball to junior left-hander George Faue for his first start on the mound for NIU. Faue has eight appearances with a 0-1 record and 5.95 ERA in 19.2 innings out of the pen for NIU working as their primary long relief pitcher. In his last outing, Faue went two and two thirds scoreless innings in Saturday's second game, giving up one hit and two walks with a strikeout.
 
NIU had five hitters hit over .300 on the weekend against the Falcons, led by junior infielder Samuel Vega's .538 batting average. Vega hit the Huskies' only two home runs over the weekend, scoring six runs and only striking out once in 13 at bats.
 
Getting on base has not been an issue for the Huskies as the team has a .358 on-base percentage, which is top-five in the MAC. They are also able to drive a runner home from third with less than two outs about 50 percent of the time with a .493 average.
 
However, NIU hitters have struggled to get hits with runners in scoring position with a team batting average of .218. Freshman Jacob Dunham (.368) and junior Jesus Tovar III (.333) are the only two hitters above the .300 mark with runners in scoring position for NIU.
 
On the mound, senior Joe Hawks earned his third-straight victory last Friday against Bowling Green after going seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out five in only 89 pitches.
 
So far in 2017, Huskies' pitchers have a 5.31 ERA with opponents hitting a .281 average in 27 games, about halfway through the season. In specific situations, NIU hurlers allow opponents hit .274 with runners in scoring position and also allow opponents to hit .320 with two outs in an inning.
 
For UW-Milwaukee, their offense is led by Chris Kelly and Daulton Varsho who are the only mainstay starters hitting over .300 on the season. Kelly, a senior outfielder, is hitting .364 on the season with four doubles and two triples. Varsho, a junior catcher, is hitting .322 with a team-leading five home runs and 17 RBIs.
 
Starting the midweek game for the Panthers is Adam Reuss who is 0-3 with an 8.20 ERA in six appearances and five starts. In 19.2 innings, Reuss has walked 19 and allowed 22 hits for a 2.20 WHIP.
 
NIU will hit the road of this home game to continue MAC play with a three-game series in Buffalo to take on the Bulls. HuskieBall fans can follow the team on Twitter @NIU_Baseball and on Instagram @niu_baseball.