April 20, 2008

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

TOLEDO, Ohio - Northern Illinois was unable to overcome an early four-run deficit and dropped Sunday's rubber game at Toledo, 4-2. The Huskies (16-19, 9-6) scored twice in the seventh and put the tying run on base in the ninth but were unable able to get enough offense for the win.

Toledo scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a RBI single by Josh Johnson. A two-run home run by Drew Hoisington in the fourth and a RBI single in the fifth by Aaron Dudley built a 4-0 advantage for the Rockets.

Northern Illinois cut the deficit in half during the seventh inning with a pair of solo home runs. Pat Minogue (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central) led off the frame by belting his first of the season over the left center field fence. Two batter later, Jeff Thomas (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) blasted his first round-tripper over right center to make it 4-2.

Brandon Copp (Aurora, Ill./West) suffered the hard-luck loss (1-5) in his first conference start of the season despite striking out a career-high 10 hitters over 6.1 innings with three earned runs. Andy Deain (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) worked the final 1.2 innings without allowing a hit.

"Brandon threw the ball very well for us today and made just one mistake to Hoisington, but other than that he gave us a chance to win," said head coach Ed Mathey. "Andy Deain did a good job out of the bullpen as well. Offensively, we stranded too many runners. We were in the game and had a chance to win, we just didn't get the big hit when we needed it."

Justin Behm (Downers Grove, Ill./North) led the Huskies with two hits, extending his career-long hitting streak to nine game, and Jordin Hood (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) singled to bring his season-long streak to nine games.

Kyle Rawlings (2-4) went 6.1 innings and gave up two earned runs to notch the win for Toledo (12-22, 5-7) while Matt Kuna worked the final 2.2 innings for his first save.

The Huskies are back in action Tuesday night against UIC at Elfstrom Stadium, home of the Kane County Cougars, in Geneva. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children 17 and under and will be available at the gate.

HUSKIE TRACKS
-Northern Illinois was unable to score a first inning run for the first time in 11 games.
-The Huskies hit seven home runs in the series and have 19 in 15 MAC games this season.
-Brandon Copp's 10 strikeouts surpassed his previous career-high of six set April 14, 2007 vs. Miami (Ohio).
-Andy Deain has not allowed an earned run in his last five appearances covering 7.0 innings.
-Bobby Stevens' streak of eight consecutive games being hit by pitch ended Sunday.

-NIU-