April 26, 2008

G2 Recap: Huskies Complete Doubleheader Sweep, Win Series Against MAC Leader Eastern Michigan

Box Score

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DeKALB, Ill. - Jeff Thomas (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) delivered a two-out walk off single in the bottom of the ninth as Northern Illinois prevailed 5-4 over MAC leader Eastern Michigan in the first game of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at Ralph McKinzie Field. The Huskies (18-21, 10-7) entered their last at-bat down one and scored twice to rally for the victory.

Danny Reed (Lindstrom, Minn./North Iowa Area CC) began the ninth inning rally with a single and came around to score on a double to left center by Matt Behren (Elmwood Park, Ill./Holy Cross) that knotted the game at four. With two outs and Behren at second, Thomas sent the game-winning hit through the right side of the infield for his second walk off hit in MAC play this season.

The Huskies opened the scoring in the bottom of first with a RBI single from Justin Behm (Downers Grove, Ill./North) that plated Jeff Thomas (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) for a 1-0 lead. Behm's hit extended his career-long hitting streak to 12 games.

In the fourth, Danny Reed (Lindstrom, Minn./North Iowa Area CC) threw out Andrew Marshall at the plate to keep NIU's one-run lead intact, but the Eagles knotted the game one batter later on a RBI single by Zack Leonard.

One inning later, Steve Bradshaw put Eastern Michigan ahead with a two-run double to left center field and Josh Ivan followed with a RBI single to make it 4-1.

Northern Illinois got back within a run in the sixth after singles by Thomas and Jordin Hood (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich), who extended his hitting streak to 13 games, put runners on for Dave Reynolds (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) who singled home the duo to make it 4-3.

Dan Atkenson (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) notched the win with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief. NIU starter Brandon Copp (Aurora, Ill./West) went 6.0 innings with seven hits and four earned runs.

Thomas, who scored twice, and Behm led the Huskies with two hits each in the game while Reynolds posted the top RBI total with two.

Robert Wendzicki (3-5) took the loss for the Eagles (15-25, 11-3).

HUSKIE TRACKS
-Northern Illinois has scored in the first inning in 13 of its last 14 games.
-The Huskies have not lost consecutive games at Ralph McKinzie Field this season.
-Jordin Hood's 13-game hitting streak is a career-high and is the second longest by a Huskie this season.
-Brandon Copp moved into a tie for ninth on the all-time Huskie career appearances list with 62.