March 16, 2006
Box Score
RENO, NV - The Huskies tallied eight runs and belted out 10 hits but the homestanding Nevada Wolfpack exceeded that total and claimed a 12-8 slugfest victory Thursday afternoon. NIU drops to 5-9 overall on the year while Nevada improves to 7-12. The teams continue their marathon five-game series with game three on Friday.
NIU jumped out to a 4-0 lead by scoring four times before an out was recorded in the first. Brian Toner opened the scoring with a single that plated Pat Mingoue and Marc Besteman who each singled earlier in the frame. Jesse Seykora then added to his team-leading doubles total and scored Scott Simon, who reached on a walk, and Toner.
Nevada came back with a six-run outburst in the third inning, keyed by a Terry Walsh grand slam to even the score. The Wolfpack took the lead at 6-4 three batters later when Leo Radkowski hit a two-run home run over the left field fence.
The Huskies knotted the game at six in their half of the fourth when Minogue singled home Brian Smith and Besteman brought in Matt Behren on a sacrifice fly.
Nevada regained the lead and extended its advantage to 10-6 behind four fourth inning runs, including two on Baker Krukow's double.
Seykora drew NIU within 10-8 in the eighth when he blasted his first home run as a Huskie by sending a pitch over the left field fence. The two-run shot also scored Toner and gave Seykora his third and fourth RBI of the afternoon.
"Nevada swung the bats well when they needed to but we gave them some free passes," said head coach Ed Mathey. "Jesse Seykora had a great day for us and has been playing very well. He's been a great addition to our ballclub."
Andy Deain (0-1) took the loss in relief for NIU while Matt Renfree (1-1) picked up the victory for Nevada.
Matt German threw one scoreless inning of relief, extending his streak of innings without allowing an earned run to 17.2, dating back to last season. During that span he has struck out 24 hitters and yielded just nine hits.
The Huskies continue their series against Nevada with a Friday afternoon game scheduled for 2 p.m. local/4 p.m. central time. Brian Smith (1-3) will take the mound for NIU as the Huskies will don special green uniforms for St. Patrick's Day. Live play-by-play and statistics will be available on Gametracker, accessible through the baseball schedule page of www.niuhuskies.com.
NOTABLE HUSKIE TRACKS ...
-Jesse Seykora's four RBI were a career-high and Huskie season best.
-NIU's 10 hits were its most since belted out 12 at Southern Illinois on March 5.
-The Huskies recorded a double-digit hit total for the fifth time this season.
-Dave Nykiel has not allowed a run in seven appearances and six innings of work this season.
