March 22, 2008

Game Two Recap: NIU Complete Doubleheader Sweep With 17-1 Rout Over Buffalo

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

OLEAN, N.Y. - Head coach Ed Mathey won his 144th game at Northern Illinois and became the school's all-time winningest coach with a 10-3 come-from-behind victory at Buffalo in the Huskies' MAC Opener.

NIU (5-10, 1-0) struck for eight runs in the seventh inning, got a complete game from Trevor Feeney (Channahon, Ill./Joliet Catholic) and a career-high five RBI from Dave Reynolds (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) for the win in the first game of a doubleheader played at St. Bonaventure University.

Mathey, in his sixth season at NIU, moved ahead of Spanky McFarland for the school's career coaching victory list as the Huskies won their MAC opener for the second consecutive season. After the win, Mathey's son Patrick presented him with the game ball.

"I have to give a lot of credit to a lot of people," said Mathey. "Off the field, my family has been very supportive. My wife, Colleen, has been outstanding and so have my three children. Our coaches, Coach Joslyn, who probably has about half of these wins, and our current assistants Tom Carcione and Ray Napientek and our previous assistants Tim McDonough and Luke Sabers, along with our players all believe in what we are doing. Cary Groth and Jim Phillips and the administration at NIU have been supportive. Our challenge coming here six years ago was to change the culture and I think we have made steps with three 30-win seasons, but we still have our sights set on a MAC Championship."

Down 2-0, the Huskies drew within a run in the third on a RBI single by Jordin Hood (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich). After the Bulls had regained a two-run advantage with a run in the sixth, NIU erupted for its largest inning outburst of the year by posting eight runs on six hits in the seventh inning.

Reynolds opened up the frame with a double and Justin Behm (Downers Grove, Ill./North) belted a two-run home run to even the game at three. Anthony Maziur (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) scored on a fielder's choice to give the Huskies the lead and an error allowed Bobby Stevens (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep) to put NIU ahead to stay at 5-3. Later in the inning, the Huskies loaded the bases and Reynolds stepped in and ripped a grand slam that made it a six-run advantage.

Dave Reynolds belted his first career grand slam and collected a career-high five RBI in the MAC opener at Buffalo.

The Huskies added the game's final run in the ninth when Jeff Thomas (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) singled and eventually came around to score when Reynolds reached on an error by the Buffalo second baseman.

Feeney, who improved to 1-2, struck out seven while scattering nine hits, three earned runs and two walks for his third career complete game MAC victory.

"Trevor threw really well today," said Mathey. "His ran up his pitch count by the ninth inning and we considered making a change but he wanted to finish the game and we let him as long as no one reached base in the ninth."

Danny Reed (Lindstrom, Minn./North Iowa Area CC) extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a single. Behm set a career-high with four hits while Stevens collected a career-best three steals in the game.

Jeffrey Hains (1-2) took the loss for Buffalo, who dropped to 5-12 overall and 0-1 in the MAC.

The Huskies and Bulls wrap up their series with the doubleheader nitecap Saturday and a single game Sunday.

HUSKIE TRACKS
-Bobby Stevens' three stolen bases were a career-high and moved him into a fourth-place tie on the school's all-time steals list with 40.
-Dave Reynolds set a career-high with five RBI, topping his previous best set March 15, 2007 against Fordham.
-All three of Trevor Feeney's career complete games have come against MAC teams.
-Feeney vaulted into 10th place on NIU's list for career innings pitched with 203.2.

-NIU-