May 23, 2008

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Northern Illinois was unable to overcome a seven-run first inning by top-seeded Kent State in a 10-3 loss that ended its season Friday night at the MAC Tournament. The Huskies finished the season 28-26 and matched their deepest MAC Tournament run with two victories and a third place (tie) finish.

Kent State opened the game with its first five hitters reaching base, eventually putting up seven runs on six hits in the inning. The Flashes' outburst was keyed by a bases-clearing double from Jared Bartholomew and a hit and error play off the bat of Brett Weibley that scored two more.

Two innings later, the Golden Flashes added a run on a RBI triple by Ben Klafczynski.

Northern Illinois got on the board with three runs on the fourth. Bobby Stevens (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep) and Jordin Hood (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) each singled ahead of Justin Behm (Downers Grove, Ill./North) who cleared the right field fence with a three-run home run that make the score 8-3.

Kent State gained a run back in the seventh on a RBI single by Jared Humphreys that scored Bartholomew, who had led off with a triple. In the next inning, the Flashes scored on a wild pitch in the eighth that capped the scoring at 10-3.

Starter Brandon Copp (Aurora, Ill./West) took the loss (2-7) for the Huskies. Seniors Dan Atkenson (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) went 5.1 innings with two earned runs and Dave Nykiel (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) retired the side in middle relief. Freshman Tom Zelasko (Lansing, Ill./Mt. Carmel) recorded a 1-2-3 ninth inning to finish the game.

Six Huskies had one hit each in the contest, led by Behm's three RBI on the round-tripper.

Brad Stillings (4-7) retired the first 10 Huskies he faced and went on to throw 8.0 innings to collect the win for Kent State (36-20).

Live coverage of Saturday's MAC Championship game between Kent State and Eastern Michigan and complete tournament information is available on the MAC's official website, MAC-Sports.com.

HUSKIE TRACKS
-Northern Illinois set a school-record with a .963 fielding percentage, eclipsing the mark originally set in 1959 and matched in 2007.
-Andy Deain set a NIU season record with his 35th appearance of the year surpassing the previous mark of 34 established by Matt German in 2007.
-Justin Behm's 11th home run moved him into a tie for seventh on NIU's single season list. With 17 career round-trippers, he is tied for 10th on the school's all-time list.
-Bobby Stevens moved into sixth place on the NIU all-time runs scored list with the 130th of his career.
-Dan Atkenson finished the year with 31 appearances, the seventh-highest season total in school history.
-Dave Reynolds hit .462 (6-for-13) and slugged 1.077 with two home runs and five RBI during the MAC Tournament.

-NIU-