May 5, 2006
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, MI - Northern Illinois dropped a 7-4 decision in the opening game of its weekend series at Western Michigan. NIU now stands 23-24 overall and 8-11 in the MAC while the Broncos move to 21-18, 9-9 in conference.
The Broncos went up 3-0 in the bottom of the first on a RBI single by Mark Abro, a sacrifice fly by Nathan Marquardt and a RBI single by Neal Miller.
WMU added three more in the fourth. R.C. Dickerson and Brent Gerlach both scored on a throwing error after a bunt by Zach Gentile, who later scored on a groundout by Adro for a 6-0 home lead.
The Huskies got on the board in the top of the fifth when Kyle Pettengell (DeKalb) homered over the right center field fence to cut the margin to 6-1.
Marc Besteman (Bradford, Ontario/North Central TX CC) singled to lead off the seventh and came around to score when Pat Minogue (Crystal Lake/Central) followed with a triple down the right field line. Later in the frame, Brian Toner (Alsip/Kishwaukee CC) ripped a single to center to score Minogue and cut the deficit to 6-3.
Travis May scored for WMU on a fielder's choice in the seventh to make it a 7-3 game. In the eighth, NIU trimmed the lead back to three on a Besteman RBI groundout that brought home Jeff Thomas (Loves Park/Harlem), who reached on a single, providing the game's final margin at 7-4.
Bobby Stevens (Chicago/Guerin Prep) collected three hits in the game to pace the Huskie offense while Minogue had two.
Nick Hall (Crystal Lake/Prairie Ridge) took the loss (4-5) after throwing 6.1 innings and allowing just one earned over his final 5.1 innings of work. Dan O'Brien (6-2) earned the win for WMU, striking out 10 and allowing three earned runs over 6.2 innings, and Brian Kross picked up his third save by going the final 2.1 innings.
NIU and WMU continue their series Saturday afternoon in a 1 p.m. ET start. Live statistics will be linked through the baseball schedule page of www.niuhuskies.com.
NOTABLE HUSKIE TRACKS ...
-NIU has home runs in seven of its last eight MAC games, totaling 10 round-trippers over the span, after hitting five in the first 11 league contests.
-Two of Kyle Pettengell's three career home runs have come in the past three games (today at WMU and Tuesday at UW-Milwaukee).
-Bobby Stevens has hit safely in eight of his last 10 MAC games.
-Pat Minogue extended his hitting streak to five games, dating back to April 29.
-Nick Hall pulled into a tie for second on the NIU career innings list, equaling the 270.1 thrown by Zach Minor (2001-04).
