Feb. 28, 2008

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

SURPRISE, Ariz. - A four-run 16th inning, keyed by Danny Meier's two-run double, lifted Portland to a 9-6 victory over Northern Illinois Thursday afternoon. The Huskies (0-1) took a 5-2 lead but were unable to hold on in their opening game of the season.

The marathon contest was the longest on record for NIU, both in innings (16) and duration (4:22).

Meier's double put the Pilots up 7-5 in the 16th before Paul Crowder scored from third on a balk and Kevin Armijo had a RBI single for a four-run differential.

The Huskies got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI groundout by Anthony Maziur (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) before leaving a runner on base.

Danny Reed (Lindstrom, Minn./North Iowa Area CC) set a career-high with four hits while Dave Reynolds (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) chipped in three for the Huskies.

Northern Illinois got on the scoreboard first when Reed laced a RBI double down the left field line in the fourth to score Bobby Stevens (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep), who led off with a double off the left field fence.

After Portland took a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the sixth, NIU loaded the bases in its half of the inning and knotted the game when Matt Behren (Elmwood Park, Ill./Holy Cross) drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Jeff Thomas (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem).

The Huskies took the lead later in the frame when Reynolds (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) delivered a two-run single that chased Portland starter David Gruener and made it 4-2 Huskies. One batter later, Tim Kamin (Oak Lawn, Ill./Richards) followed with a pinch-hit RBI double for a 5-2 cushion.

Portland used a pair of solo home runs by Rocky Gale in the seventh and Bryant Kraus in the eighth to cut its deficit to one. Later in the eighth, Gale evened the game at five with a RBI single.

NIU placed a runner on third with one out in the bottom of the 13th but was unable to push across the winning run.

Huskie starter Trevor Feeney (Channahon, Ill./Joliet Catholic) worked 7.1 innings, scattering seven hits and allowing two earned runs in a no-decision effort. Nick Badgley (McHenry, Ill./McHenry CC) took the loss (0-1) in relief for NIU.

Matthew Lange (3-1) tossed the final six innings to notch the win for Portland (4-2).

The Huskies face Hawai'i Thursday evening to wrap up their stay in Arizona. NIU will play a doubleheader Saturday and single game Sunday against Southern Illinois at Rent One Ballpark in Marion, Ill.

HUSKIE TRACKS
-The previous longest game on record for NIU was the March 29, 2005 contest against Northern Iowa, a 15-inning, 4:11 outing that the Panthers won 4-3.
-Danny Reed had a career-high four hits becoming the first Huskie to record a four-hit game since Matt Behren on May 19, 2007 at Toledo.
-Dan Atkenson set a career-high with five strikeouts in his two innings of work, a total that included striking out the side in the 14th inning.
-Nick Badgley made his NIU mound debut, becoming the third Badgley to pitch for the Huskies following Dan (1997-2001) and Mark (2003-07).

-NIU-