May 4, 2008

G2 Recap: Northern Illinois Drops Series Rubber Game to Central Michigan in Sunday Nitecap

Box Score

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DeKALB, Ill. - Six Northern Illinois players had multi-hit games, led by three-hit games by Pat Minogue and Danny Reed, but the team's 15-hit total and late rally was not enough in a 8-5 loss to Central Michigan in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader at Ralph McKinzie Field. The Huskies (21-22, 12-8) scored twice in the eighth and loaded the bases in ninth but were only able to get one run.

Central Michigan got on the board first when Jeff Digati came around to score from second on an errant throw that allowed Tyler Stovall to reach base with two outs in the top of the second.

The Huskies knotted the score at one in third on a solo home run over the left field fence by Pat Minogue (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central), his second of the season.

With the score tied at one in the fourth, Jeff Helps' two RBI single put the Chippewas up by a pair of runs.

Northern Illinois answered in the bottom of inning to get back within a run. Matt Behren (Elmwood Park, Ill./Holy Cross) doubled down the line and an errant throw to the infield allowed Danny Reed (Lindstrom, Minn./North Iowa Area CC) to score and make it 3-2.

The Chippewas extended their lead with four runs in the fifth. CMU used a RBI single by Casey Ingle, a bases-loaded walk to Billy Anderson, a sacrifice fly by Stovall and a wild pitch that plated Ingle to up its lead to 7-2.

NIU got a run back in the fifth when Jeff Thomas (Loves Park, Ill.) leadoff with a double down the right field line and came across to score two batters later on a RBI single by Justin Behm (Downers Grove, Ill./North), who extended his career-long hitting streak to 15 games. One inning later, the Huskies loaded the bases with one out but were unable to push across a run.

The Huskies took advantage of opportunities and miscues in the eight to get back within two at 7-5. After NIU loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batsman, an errant CMU throw to the plate allowed Minogue and Bobby Stevens (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep) to score. The next pitch got away from the Chippewa catcher but not far enough to score Thomas from third, who was tagged out at the plate by pitcher Chris Kupillas covering on the play.

CMU added an insurance run in the ninth before NIU loaded the bases with no outs in their last at-bat. The Huskies got a run when Dave Reynolds (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) scored on a wild pitch but could not get closer than the final 8-6 margin.

Reed and Minogue, who tied his season-high, led the Huskies with three hits and Thomas, Hood, Behren and Dave Reynolds (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) each had two.

Brandon Copp (Aurora, Ill./West) took the loss (1-6) for the Huskies after working 4.1 innings. Steve Teno (7-3) earned the win and Kupillas his sixth save for Central Michigan (23-21, 10-9).

The Huskies and Chippewas wrap up their series with Sunday's nitecap at McKinzie Field.

HUSKIE TRACKS
-Justin Behm's 15-game hitting streak matches the third-longest on record at NIU, a mark matched by Jordin Hood earlier in the week.
-Pat Minogue moved into 10th on the Huskies' career hits list with 163.
-Brandon Copp's 63rd career appearance moved him into sole possession of eighth place on NIU's games pitched list.
-Jeff Thomas stole his 35th career base to take over sixth place on the Huskies' all-time list.
-Danny Reed hit his 17th double of the year, tying him for the ninth-highest season total in NIU history. Reed had nine doubles in 56 games during the 2007 campaign.
-Matt Jernstad made his first relief appearance of the season.

-NIU-