April 10, 2007
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. -
Tuesday's mid-week contest between the Illinois State Redbirds and Northern Illinois Huskies headed into the ninth inning tied at 4-4, however three errors in the top of the frame by ISU (14-16) allowed two unearned runs to cross the plate for NIU (18-10) and gave the Huskies a 6-4, mid-week win at Redbird Field. With the win, NIU swept the season home-and-home series between the in-state rivals, 2-0.
Sophomore Dan Sorce (1-5) suffered the loss in relief for the Redbirds, after giving up the two unearned runs in the ninth inning. NIU reliever Brett Kellam (1-0) earned the win for the Huskies, as he threw 1.1 scoreless innings on the mound. NIU closer Matt German walked two batters in the bottom of the ninth inning, but held on to record his sixth save of the season and second of the year against ISU.
The Redbirds wasted little time getting a lead, as they scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning off NIU starter Adam Holdenrid. Back-to-back singles from Matt Bolt and Collin Salzenstein led off the game for ISU and then both runners advanced a base on a passed ball to give the `Birds two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Ryan Anetsberger then grounded out to second base to bring in Bolt for the first run of the game and put ISU up 1-0 as Salzenstein advanced to third base. In the next at bat, Salzenstein raced home and scored on the second passed ball of the inning to give the Redbirds the 2-0 advantage.
The score would stay that way until the bottom of the third inning, when ISU tacked on its third run of the game. With the bases loaded and one out, Jesse Griswold walked on four consecutive balls to bring in Bolt from third base, which brought the score to 3-0 in favor of ISU.
In the top of the sixth inning, though, the Huskies charged back with three runs to tie the game at 3-3. A RBI single by Dave Reynolds plated the first run of the inning and pinch hitter Jeff Thomas followed with a single to centerfield to score Jordin Hood and cut the lead to one at 3-2. Daniel Jewett then knotted the game at 3-3 with a single to left field that scored Reynolds from third base.
In the top of the next inning, NIU took its first lead of the day at 4-3 courtesy of a RBI single by Justin Behm. But, the `Birds answered immediately in the bottom of the seventh inning with a run of their own to tie the game at 4-4. Mike Stalowy led off the inning with a triple to right field and then scored on a two-out single by Salzenstein as the game headed into the eighth inning.
The eighth inning passed with neither team scoring and the game headed into the ninth inning still tied at 4-4. With two outs and runners at second and third for NIU, ISU third baseman Kyle Cherney missed a ball hit between his legs and Bobby Stevens and Jesse Seykora raced home to put the Huskies up 6-4. That is where the score would stay, as German shut down ISU in the bottom of the inning to secure the NIU victory.
Salzenstein finished the game 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored to pace the ISU offense, while Bolt scored two of the Redbirds' four runs. ISU returns to action tomorrow at Redbird Field against Big Ten Conference opponent Purdue. Freshman Ryan Copeland (2-2) will take the mound for ISU, with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
