May 10, 2008

G2 Recap: Northern Illinois Uses the Long Ball to Complete Doubleheader Sweep at Ball State

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

MUNCIE, Ind. - Trevor Feeney (Channahon, Ill./Joliet Catholic) went eight strong innings and allowed just five hits and one run to lead Northern Illinois past Ball State 4-1 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader at Ball Diamond. The Huskies, 22-23 on the year, improved to 13-9 in the MAC and moved past the Cardinals into second place in the MAC West standings with the victory.

Feeney (5-4) notched his MAC-leading fifth conference victory and collected his second career victory over Ball State in as many starts. The MAC leader with 8.0 innings pitched per outing, Feeney posted his 15th career victory, tying him for seventh on NIU's all-time list.

The Huskies wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Jeff Thomas (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem), Bobby Stevens (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep), and Jordin Hood (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) led off the game with back-to-back-to-back singles, the latter plating the game's initial run for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

NIU maintained its 1-0 advantage until the bottom of the fourth when BSU's Matt Stoeklen hit a solo home run to center field that evened the game at one.

With the bases loaded in the fifth, Stevens delivered a RBI single to left that put the Huskies up 3-1, scoring Dave Reynolds (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) and Pat Minogue (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central), who reached on a single and walk, respectively.

Feeney and the Huskies dodged a threat in the eighth after Ball State put the tying run on second. Northern Illinois then added an insurance run when Danny Reed (Lindstrom, Minn./North Iowa Area CC) led off the ninth by blasting a solo home run over the left field fence to put NIU ahead 4-1.

Andy Deain (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) set down the side in the bottom of the ninth for his seventh save of the season.

Thomas, Stevens and Reed each had a pair of hits in the game to lead NIU.

Tyler Pritchard (3-6) took the loss for Ball State (26-19, 11-8).

The Huskies and Cardinals continue their series with the nitecap Saturday at Ball Diamond.

HUSKIE TRACKS
-Jeff Thomas hit safely in his 12th consecutive game, matching his career-long streak that began the 2008 season.
-Trevor Feeney took over fifth place on the NIU career innings list with 258.2, passing former Major Leaguer Brian Schmack (1992-95). His 34th career start moved him into a tie for seventh all-time with Schmack and Jeff Schmitt (1992-96).
-Andy Deain's seventh save ties him for fourth on the NIU single-season list with Max Sulzberger (2002) and Trevor Wohlgemuth (2004).
-The Huskies stole their 70th base of the season to surpass the entire 2007 total of 69.
-Northern Illinois scored in it first at-bat for the 26th time in 45 games this season, but the first time since game one of the April 26th doubleheader sweep of Eastern Michigan.
-NIU has won three of its last four games at Ball Diamond.

-NIU-