Huskies Rally In Ninth To Top Redbirds, 7-6

DEKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois (7-21-1, 3-6 MAC) rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Illinois State (19-11, 5-4 MVC), 7-6, Tuesday afternoon. The Redbirds return home Thursday night and will host Robert Morris in a 6:00 p.m. start at Duffy Bass Field.

David Suarez (2-1) was ticketed with the loss. He allowed two earned runs on four hits in 2.1 innings of work. Ben Neumann (2-0) worked two scoreless innings with one strikeout for the win. Paul DeJong and Logan Leverett each launched home runs for Illinois State, however the Redbirds were out-hit, 12-9, and committed two errors while the Huskies played error-free defense.

DeJong lifted a solo home run, his fourth of the season, with two outs in the first inning to give ISU an early 1-0 advantage. NIU responded with three runs, two earned, off Headean in the bottom of the first. The Huskies added one run without a hit in the fourth inning to lead, 4-1.

Dennis Colon drove home a run on a fielder's choice in the fourth inning and Brian Rodemoyer drew a bases-loaded walk one inning later. It cut the deficit to one run, 4-3.

Leverett's two-run home run plated Mike Hollenbeck in the seventh inning and gave ISU the lead, 5-4, but NIU answered with one run off Ben Hecht in the bottom of the frame to keep the game tied. In the eighth inning, Hollenbeck's one-out sacrifice-fly scored Mason Snyder to give Illinois State a 6-5 advantage.

Alex Klonowski opened the bottom of the ninth inning with a double off Suarez. Brian Sisler followed with a double, scoring Klonowski to tie the game. Three batters later, with runners at the corners and one out, Chris DiVarco flew out to Leverett, but Sisler tagged from third to score the winning run. 

GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.