May 16, 2008

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois allowed three runs in the fifth and three in the sixth and dropped an 8-4 decision to Western Michigan Friday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field. With the loss, the Huskies (25-24, 15-10) are locked into the No. 4 seed at the MAC Tournament and a second-place finish in the West Division.

The seed is NIU's highest at the MAC Tournament and its second-place divisional finish, fourth overall in the league, match school bests.

Northern Illinois scored first with a run in the second. Matt Behren (Elmwood Park, Ill./Holy Cross singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came in to score on a RBI single by Joe Buonavolanto (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale South).

After evening the game in the fourth, Western Michigan took a 4-1 lead in the fifth before the Huskies responded in the bottom half of the frame to get back within a run. Jeff Thomas (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem), Bobby Stevens (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep) and Jordin Hood (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) all reached to load the bases with no outs. Behren grounded out to first on a play that scored Thomas routinely and Stevens on an aggressive dash from second.

Western Michigan answered back with three more runs in the sixth on back-to-back home runs by Chris Lewis, a two-run shot, and Matthew Abro to claim a four-run lead at 7-3.

The teams traded runs with Stevens scoring for NIU in the seventh on a throwing error and a RBI single by Kevan Hess for WMU in the ninth.

Adam Holdenrid (Mendota, Ill./Mendota) took the loss (5-4) for the Huskies after going 4.2 innings with eight hits, two earned runs and five strikeouts.

Hood led the Huskies with three hits in the game while Behren added two RBI and Stevens scored two runs.

Western Michigan (29-20-1, 12-11) starter Billy Morrison (6-1) earned the win, allowing three earned runs in 6.1 innings, and Brian Stroud tossed 2.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts for his first save.

The Huskies and Broncos wrap up the regular season Saturday at 1 p.m. in a game that can be heard locally on WLBK (1360-AM) and worldwide on NIUHuskies.com. Prior to the game NIU will honor its eight baseball seniors. Saturday is also baseball alumni day and those alumni in attendance are encouraged to check in at the welcome tent upon arrival.

HUSKIE TRACKS
-Northern Illinois pitchers struck out 10 hitters on the day, its highest game total since 11 in game two of the April 26 doubleheader vs. Eastern Michigan.
-Brandon Copp made his 65th career appearance and moved into a tie for seventh on NIU's all-time list.
-Dan Atkenson pitched in his 27th game of the year, tying him for 10th on the NIU single-season list.
-Bobby Stevens was hit by pitch for the 43rd time in his career, one shy of tying the all-time NIU mark.
-The Huskies fell to 8-4 on Saturdays this season, snapping a four-game Saturday win streak in the process.

-NIU-