April 6, 2010
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. - Matt Mirabal drove in two runs for Illinois State and extended his hitting streak to nine games but the Redbirds were bested by a 15-hit performance from Northern Illinois and limited to six hits of their own in a 11-4 loss at Duffy Bass Field Tuesday.
Mirabal hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning to plate Illinois State's first run and knocked an RBI double in the sixth inning, but it wasn't enough to help the Redbirds (12-14) avoid their fourth consecutive loss. Northern Illinois' Dave Reynolds and Troy White both had three hits to lead the Huskies (10-17), and each drove in two runs. White had three doubles for NIU.
By the time Mirabal pushed across Brett Kay with a fly ball to left field in the third inning, Illinois State was already facing a large deficit. The Huskies scored six runs in the first two innings off Illinois State starting pitcher Ryan Camp, including three unearned among five total runs in the second. Northern Illinois added four more in the top of the fifth off reliever Cam Verbeke to make it a 10-1 game.
Illinois State answered with a single run in the bottom of the fifth as Ryan Court walked with the bases loaded to score Anthony Ruffolo, and plated two more runs in the bottom of the sixth off doubles by Mirabal and Ruffolo. Illinois State appeared to have made it a 10-7 game after a three-run home run to left by Tyler McNeely, but the home plate umpire signaled a foul ball and McNeely struck out to end the sixth.
The Huskies added a single run in the eighth off Jim Sajewich, one of six Redbird pitchers used in the game. Ryan Copeland, Kenny Long and Brad Sorkin all pitched scoreless innings for Illinois State.
The Redbirds will resume Missouri Valley Conference play when they travel to Omaha, Neb., for a three-game series with Creighton at the CU Sports Complex (April 9-11).
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