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May 10, 2008
G1 Recap: Feeney's Gem Lifts Northern Illinois Past Ball State, Into Second Place in MAC West
MUNCIE, Ind. - Northern Illinois homered four times, two off the bat of Jordin Hood, in a 7-6 victory that completed a doubleheader sweep over Ball State at Ball Diamond. The sweep moved the Huskies (23-23, 14-9) 1.5 games ahead of the Cardinals (26-20, 11-9) for second place in the MAC West and the equivalent of 1.5 back of the top spot held by Eastern Michigan. NIU completed its fourth sweep in five league twinbills this season. Hood (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) set a career high with four RBI while his two home runs and three runs both matched career-bests. The Huskies clinched their second consecutive series win at Ball State is as many season after having not won a series in Muncie since 1980. "To go on the road in this league and win a doubleheader is an accomplishment," said head coach Ed Mathey. "Ball State is one of the top teams in this league and has been for a long time. These were big wins in big games today." NIU scored in the first inning for the second consecutive game when Bobby Stevens (Chicago, Ill./Guerin Prep) doubled and Hood belted a two-run home run over the left-center field fence to put the Huskies ahead 2-0. Ball State took the lead with three runs in the second. A two-run home run by Matt Stoeklen knotted the game at two before the next batter, J.T. Baumet, put the Cardinals ahead 3-2 with a solo shot. Stevens drew Northern Illinois back even at three in the third with a solo home run deep over left center. Two innings later, Pat Minogue (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central) cleared the left field fence with a solo blast of his own to reclaim the lead for the Huskies at 4-3. NIU took advantage of a pair of Ball State errors in the sixth to plate a run. Hood singled, stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw before scoring from third on a muffed ground ball to first. The game was tied again in the bottom of the sixth when BSU's Kolbrin Vitek cleared the fence with a two-run homer. Hood's second long ball of the day broke the deadlock and put the Huskies ahead 7-5 in the seventh. Jeff Thomas (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) drew a walk earlier in the frame, to provide the addition run on the round-tripper. Ball State got back within a run at 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh courtesy of Wayne Bond's home run to straightaway centerfield. Adam Holdenrid (Mendota, Ill./Mendota) worked 6.2 innings in the victory (5-3), Dan Atkenson (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) tossed a perfect eighth and Andy Deain (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) notched his eighth save of the season and second of the day with a scoreless ninth. Stevens had two hits and scored a pair of runs for the Huskies. Aaron Hammons (2-3) took the loss in relief for Ball State. "Our pitchers threw well today and did a good job attacking the strike zone," said Mathey. "Trevor [Feeney] had a great start in game one, Adam [Holdenrid] gave up some runs in the second game but did not allow free passes, and Andy [Deain] had two saves, which is a pretty good day. I thought defensively we were outstanding with some big plays from [Jeff] Thomas and [Dave] Reynolds. Offensively, the home runs in game two were big and Jordin [Hood} had a real good day at the plate." The Huskies and Cardinals wrap up their series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Ball Diamond. NIU returns home to host Northern Iowa at 2 p.m. Monday at Ralph McKinzie Field to open the final week of regular season play. HUSKIE TRACKS -NIU-
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