ISU sophomore Andrew Schmid wants a job. On Tuesday, he’ll have his second chance at earning a spot in the ISU Baseball Club team’s rotation, as the right-hander takes the hill for the Cyclones (1-1) when they face off against the UNI Panthers in Cedar Falls on Thursday. Schmid, who has made only one relief appearance this year, will take the mound, auditioning for a spot in the starting rotation.

“It felt good to get out there and face some live hitters,” said Schmid of his first outing. “It’s just good to go out there and throw – even if it’s for one inning.”

The Cyclones hope for more than one inning out of Schmid this time as they prepare for a two-day stretch that sees them playing one game against the Panthers, followed by a doubleheader Friday in Iowa City against the Hawkeyes. Since the club has played only two games this season, club president and outfielder Bryan Scholar said the rotation is open to anyone, including Schmid, who previously held the Iowa Hawkeyes to zero runs in one inning of relief work this season.

“It’s hard to say what our pitching rotation in a four-game series is going to be,” said Scholar. “I definitely feel Andrew has a chance to make it into the rotation.”

Schmid, who will take the mound against the Panthers, will be followed Friday by Bryan Junge in game one against the Hawkeyes. Right-hander Blake Wilken will conclude the series when he takes the hill in game two of the series. All three will try to improve on the Cyclones’ pitching, which allowed 19 walks in the team’s only two games this season against the Hawkeyes. For Schmid, it could be the difference between a spot in the rotation and a spot in the bullpen.

“I’m looking for him to get ahead of hitters, throw strikes and keep the walks down,” Scholar said. “I’m looking for him to work quickly. It’s going to be cold, and defensively, people aren’t going to want to be standing around.”

The Cyclones will take the field for the first time in more than a week, after rainouts to Northern Iowa last weekend and last Tuesday. Tuesday’s cancellation marked the fifth time this season the Cyclones were held off the field because of weather.

“I think the main thing is people just want to play,” he said. “We’ve had two games now and it’s already April. We just want to go out and play.”

When the Cyclones finally take the field, Schmid will be making his first start in nearly three months. Despite the time away from the hill, the sophomore said he’s fully prepared, after spending the summer competing in a wood bat league with rosters full of Division I players.

“I feel pretty confident that I’ll do decently against the kids in the club league,” Schmid said. “But no one really knows until that first pitch comes out of your hand.”