April 4, 2008

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois used a four-home run scoring barrage and totaled 17 hits in an 11-6 win over defending MAC Tournament champion Kent State in the first league game at Ralph McKinzie Field this season. Justin Behm (Downers Grove, Ill./North) cleared the fence twice and Trevor Feeney (Channahon, Ill./Joliet Catholic) tossed his second complete game of the year for the Huskies (11-14, 4-3).

"Our hitters did an outstanding job and we swung the bats well today," said head coach Ed Mathey, who earned the 150th win of his NIU career. "The success in the first inning was a direct result of executing our approach of waiting and hitting to the mid or opposite field. Getting back over the .500 mark in the MAC is key as so is starting off a series with a victory, especially at home. Hopefully this win will carry over to tomorrow."

NIU's bats were blazing at the onset of the contest with a five-run first inning explosion that began with a sacrifice fly by Danny Reed (Lindstrom, Minn./North Iowa Area CC) that plated Jeff Thomas (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem). Dave Reynolds (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) followed with a RBI single ahead of a Jordin Hood (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) RBI double. The next batter, Behm, lifted an offering over the right center field fence to score two and make it 5-0 for the home team.

Kent State trimmed the margin to a run after two-run homers by Jared Bartholomew in the second and Anthony Gallas in the third.

With the Huskies up 5-4, Behm struck again, this time with his first career triple to right center field, to score Reynolds.

Two innings later, Behm sent a blast deep over the left field fence that bounded off the parking lot and ended up on the second pedestrian ramp at Huskie Stadium and gave NIU a 7-4 lead.

Hood added a RBI single in the sixth before the Golden Flashes got a run back in the seventh.

NIU put the game out of reach in the eighth when Reed and Hood each joined the home run club with solo shots that made it 11-5.

KSU got one more run on the board and capped the scoring in the ninth with a pinch-hit solo homer by Conor Egan.

Trevor Feeney notched his fourth career complete game and second of the season.

Behm ended the day 3-for-4 with a career-high five RBI while Hood totaled a career-best four hits and three RBI and three runs scored. Thomas also added three hits with Matt Behren (Elmwood Park, Ill./Holy Cross) and Pat Minogue (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central) each contributing a pair.

Feeney (2-3) went the distance and fanned four against just one walk. Brad Stallings (0-5) took the loss for Kent State (10-14, 0-4).

The Huskies and Golden Flashes resume their series Saturday with a 1 p.m. start that can be heard locally on WLBK (1360-AM) and worldwide on NIUHuskies.com.

HUSKIE TRACKS ...
-Northern Illinois has nine home runs in four home games, an average of 2.25 per game. The Huskies have 19 home runs in 25 games for the season, an average of 0.76 per contest.
-NIU's four home runs equal its season high, set 10 days prior in the nitecap of the doubleheader vs. Bradley.
-Justin Behm set a career-high for home runs and equaled his career high for RBI, set May 24, 2007 vs. Toledo at the MAC Tournament.
-Jordin Hood recorded a career-high with four hits and tied his career marks for RBI and runs scored, each equaled previously in 2008.
-Trevor Feeney moved into seventh place on the NIU career strikeouts list (154), eighth on the career innings list (219.2) and 10th on the games started list (30).
-Jeff Thomas took over sole possession of ninth on the NIU career stolen bases list with 31.
-Bobby Stevens is now tied for 10th on the NIU career runs scored list with 104.

-NIU-