April 9, 2008

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS -

                The University of Northern Iowa baseball team entered the top of the ninth trailing by a run, but scored four runs on two outs to claim a 13-11 win over Minnesota in the Metrodome Wednesday afternoon.

            Brandon Douglas finished 2-of-4 with a double and a triple for UNI. He also collected three RBIs and scored three runs, including the tying run in the top of the ninth. Cory Ege finished 3-of-4 for the Panthers along with two RBIs.

            Tim Flattery (2-0) gave up two runs in 1.1 innings to earn the win for the Panthers. Joe Gonzalez earned the save for UNI, his fourth of the season.

Dane Embury singled up the middle with one out in the top of the first. Brandon Douglas followed with a double off the right field wall to send Embury to third. Chris Lopez hit a single up the middle to score Embury, and Brett Featherston hit a sacrifice fly into center to score Douglas and put UNI in front 2-0.

            In the top of second, Travis Hendrix drew a one-out walk. He stole second and moved to third on a ground out. Cory Ege hit a single through the right side of the field to score Hendrix and put the Panthers in front, 3-0.

            Mike Kvasnicka led off the bottom half of that inning with a double down the right line. He scored on a single by Jon Hummel to cut the Panther advantage to 3-1.

            With bases loaded and one out in the top of the fourth, Cory Ege hit a sacrifice fly into right to score Brett Featherston. Deric Manrique walked to reload the bases, and Embury drew a two-out walk to score Brett Douglas. With bases loaded, two out and a full count, Brandon Douglas hit a triple down the left field line to clear the bases and give UNI an 8-2 lead. Brandon Douglas would score on a wild pitch to give the Panthers a 9-2 advantage.

            Kyle Knudson led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple into right. He scored on a single by Jon Hummel. Jeremy Chlan doubled into right, and Matt Nohelty followed with a bloop single into left to score Hummel. Eric Decker singled into center to score Chlan and cut the Panther lead to 9-5. Jeff DeSmidt and Derek McCullum each hit RBI singles for the Gophers to bring the score to 9-7. UNI was able to turn the double play to end the inning.

            Neither team scored until the bottom of the seventh, when a two-out double by Nohelty scored Aaron Larson to trim the Panther lead to 9-8.

            In the bottom of the eighth, Minnesota used three hits and a Panther error to score two runs and take its first lead of the game, 10-9.

            Brandon Douglas and Featherston each drew walks, and Brett Douglas was hit by a pitch to give the Panthers the tying run at third with two out. Minnesota closer Scott Matyas' first pitch to Travis Hendrix skipped past the catcher, allowing Brandon Douglas to score on the wild pitch.  Hendrix laid down a bunt to score Featherston and give the Panthers an 11-10 lead.  Eddie Almonte hit a single up the middle and off Matya's glove, scoring Brett Douglas. Ege singled down the right line, and a throwing error by Gopher first baseman Joe Maciej allowed Hendrix to score from second to put UNI in front 13-10.

            Minnesota was able to get one run back in the bottom of the ninth, and the Gophers brought the tying run to the plate. The Panthers were able to end the rally, however, coming away with the 13-11 victory.

            UNI returns to action on Friday when it plays at Illinois State at 6 p.m.