April 4, 2008

Box Score

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -

            The University of Northern Iowa baseball team could not get its bats going in a 6-2 loss at Indiana State Friday night. Sycamore starter Michael Manus struck out 11 while holding UNI to just two hits through 7.1 innings of work.

            Brett Featherston was 1-of-4 from the plate with two RBIs for the Panthers (14-10, 3-1). Nick Kirk (3-4) was charged with the loss after giving up one run on one hit and two walks through 2.1 innings.

            Michael Manus retired the Panthers in order in the first two innings. In the bottom of the second, Nick Ciolli hit a one-out single into left. He moved to second on a balk and to third on a ground out. Brett Featherston tracked down a ground ball down the right line to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.

            Travis Hendrix drew a one-out walk in the top of the third to give the Panthers their first base runner. He moved to second on a balk, but the Sycamores retired the next two UNI batters to prevent him from scoring.

            Nick Kirk walked Pascual Del Real in the bottom of the third. Ryan Strausborger moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Kirk left the game with an injury after throwing one pitch to David Brumagin, and Mike O'Leary entered the game in relief. Brumagin flew out to left. Chris Schmidt hit a two-out single into center to score Del Real and put the Sycamores on the board. Brady Shoemaker hit a single and Brian Oliver walked to load the bases for ISU. O'Leary was able to get Ciolli to ground out to keep the ISU advantage at 1-0.

            Chris Lopez earned the Panthers' first hit of the game, driving a pitch into center field with two outs in the top of the fourth. He moved to second on a wild pitch, but Featherston hit a sharp ground ball to short to end the inning.

            In the bottom of the fourth, Bronco Lafrenz led off the inning with a walk. He moved to second on sacrifice bunt. Travis Hendrix snagged a sharply hit ground ball to throw out Del Real and record the second out of the inning. Strausborger singled into left, and Lafrenz was able to score from second. UNI catcher Eddie Almonte made a diving catch of a foul ball hit by Brumagin to end the inning.

            In the bottom of the fifth, Schmidt singled to lead off the inning. He stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch to give ISU a 3-0 lead.

            In the bottom of the seventh, Ciolli led off the inning with a walk. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a single from Brian Jett. Del Real doubled down the left line to score Ciolli and give the Sycamores runners at second and third. UNI reliever Jason Smith was charged with a balk, sending Jett home and giving ISU a 5-0 lead.

            Matt Davis led off the top of the eighth with a pinch-hit single through the ride side, just the second hit of the game for UNI. After a fly out from Deric Manrique, Dane Embury hit a single through the middle. Brandon Douglas followed with a bunt that allowed everyone to reach safely, giving UNI bases loaded with one out and Chris Lopez at the plate. Lopez hit a fly ball into shallow right that held Cory Ege, who was running for Davis, at third.

            Brett Featherston drew a full count, sending the runners off with the pitch. Featherston singled into right, scoring Ege and Embury and bringing the score to 5-2.  Brett Douglas hit a fly out into right to end the inning.

            In the bottom of the eighth, Schmidt led off the inning with a walk and scored on a triple into deep center field by Schoemaker, giving the Sycamores a 6-2 lead.

            In the top of the ninth, Travis Hendrix hit a one-out single into right. Jett was able to catch a line drive by Ege and tag first to record the double play and end the ball game.

            The Sycamores outhit UNI 10-6. UNI stranded seven runners on base, while ISU left 13 men on base.

            The teams will play game two of the three-game series Saturday at noon.