April 7, 2006
Box Score
DeKALB, IL - Northern Illinois dropped a 13-10 decision to Kent State Friday afternoon in cold and windy conditions at Ralph McKinzie Field. The Huskies now stand at 12-15 overall, 4-3 in MAC play while the Golden Flashes improve 15-10, 5-2 in the league. Game two of the three-game series is Saturday afternoon.
In a contest played with temperatures falling through the 40's and strong winds gusting to near 30 mph, the NIU offense pounded out 14 hits, including a three-for-four performance by Brian Toner (Alsip/Kishwaukee CC) and multi-hit games from four others.
KSU opened the scoring with a fourth inning run on Todd Balduf's sacrifice fly to go ahead 1-0. The Huskies knotted up the game in the bottom of the frame when Toner scored on Bobby Stevens' (Chicago/Guerin Prep) infield bunt.
The Flashes tallied six runs on six singles in the fifth to take a 7-1 advantage. NIU gained back two runs on a Scott Simon (Algonquin/Marian Central Catholic) single to get within four before KSU answered with two more in the sixth for a 9-3 lead.
NIU rallied with three runs in the sixth inning on a fielder's choice RBI by Pat Minogue (Crystal Lake/Central), and Brian Smith (Chicago Ridge/Richards) and a Toner RBI single that plated Smith to trim the margin to 9-6.
Kent State totaled three runs in the seventh to make it 12-6. The Huskies scored an eighth inning run when Smith singled home Matt Behren (Elmwood Park/Holy Cross).
The Flashes added an insurance run in the ninth to extend the lead to 13-7. In the bottom of the ninth, the Huskies mounted a rally with two runs on a throwing error and a run on a ground out but ended the game with the NIU's tying run on deck.
Nick Hall (Crystal Lake/Prairie Ridge) took the loss for NIU and is now 3-3 on the year. KSU starter Chad Wagler (4-3) gained the victory while Ryan Davis recorded the game's final out for his fifth save of the season.
Game two of the Huskies-Flashes series is set for 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon with live coverage available on GameTracker, linked through the baseball schedule page of www.niuhuskies.com.
NOTABLE HUSKIE TRACKS ...
-Brian Toner recorded his 11th multi-hit game of the season and has five hits in his last two games.
-Brian Smith has consecutive multi-hit MAC games with two hits today and two against Akron on April 2.
-Pat Minogue's hit streak ended at nine games.
-Kent State's 13 runs and 16 hits were the most allowed by NIU in conference play this season.
