April 23, 2008

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

DeKALB, Ill. - Joe Etcheverry tied the Northern Illinois single-game hit record but it was not enough as the Huskies were unable to withstand a ninth inning rally in a 14-10 loss to Illinois State Wednesday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field. NIU (17-20) pounded out 16 hits in the game but could not hold on to its late lead.

Etcheverry (Bakersfield, Calif./Centennial), a freshman, collected five hits in the game, equaling the school record set six times previously (last by Marc Besteman in 2006), after entering the game with four hits in 17 season at-bats.

A RBI single by Etcheverry put the Huskies up 1-0 in the first before Bobby Stevens (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep) delivered a RBI single of his own one inning later for a 2-0 advantage.

Illinois State answered in the third with five runs on six hits, including a single by Eric Mahler that put the Redbirds ahead.

The Huskies countered with a four spot in the third, tying the game on three-run triple by Nick Badgley (McHenry, Ill./McHenry CC), who later came in from third on a balk for the go-ahead run.

After ISU knotted the game at six in the fourth, the Huskies took the lead back 8-6 when a throwing error allowed Etcheverry to score and Kevin Smith (Wheaton, Ill./North) netted his first career RBI on an infield single.

Up 8-7 in the seventh, NIU added what looked to be insurance runs on an error that plated Badgley and a Stevens sacrifice fly to make it a three-run advantage.

The Redbirds rallied with a big ninth inning, tying the game on a RBI single by Quinn Ewert and eventually added three more runs for a 14-10 victory.

Badgley paced the Huskies with a career-high three RBI and Jordin Hood (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) had two hits to extend his career-best hitting streak to 11 games.

Andy Deain (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) took the loss (3-1) in relief while Jacob Wielebnicki picked up the win (1-0) for Illinois State (18-19).

Northern Illinois returns to action Friday afternoon at McKinzie Field in the first of a three-game series against first-place Eastern Michigan. The matchup of West Division rivals features the league's top two teams by winning percentage.

HUSKIE TRACKS
-Northern Illinois has scored 38 runs on 44 hits in its last three home games. The Huskies are averaging 11.9 hits per contest in 10 games at McKinzie Field this season.
-Nick Badgley recorded his first career multi-hit game in addition to his career-high RBI total.
-The Huskies have scored in the first inning in 12 of their last 13 games.
-Freshman Kevin Smith made his first career start and delivered his first two career hits, including a double for his initial collegiate hit.
-NIU suffered its first loss of the year after holding a lead through eight innings.

-NIU-