July 21, 2008

DeKALB, Ill. - Former Northern Illinois pitcher Matt Jernstad (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) has signed with the Joliet Jackhammers of the independent Northern League. The lefthander is the 20th Huskie to sign a pro contact in Ed Mathey's six seasons as head coach.

Jernstad won 11 games in his four seasons at NIU and ended his career ranked fifth on the school's all-time starts list (39), seventh in strikeouts (163) and 10th in innings pitched (228.1). All three of Jernstad's 2008 victories came during the second half of the season as he compiled a 3-4 overall record after notching a pair of four victory campaigns in 2006 and 2007.

In an elimination game against Ball State at the 2008 MAC Tournament, Jernstad struck out a career-high 13, the second-highest single-game total on record at NIU, over 7.1 innings in a game won by the Huskies in their last at-bat.

Former Huskie infielder Rob Marconi of the Gary SouthShore RailCats was an all-star selection in the Northern League this season. Jernstad joins former teammates Bobby Stevens and Trevor Feeney, both drafted and signed by MLB teams, as NIU's "Class of 2008" players reaching the pro ranks.

The Jackhammers are managed by 14-year Major League infielder and former Minor League Manager of the Year Wally Backman and the team's pitching coach is former Major Leaguer Floyd Youmans.

A complete listing of NIU's recent professional players is available here.

-NIU-