April 9, 2008
Box Score in PDF Format 
Box Score
Live Blog Transcript from the Valparaiso Trip
VALPARAISO, Ind. - Northern Illinois took an early three-run lead but was unable to hold on, dropping a one-run decision to Valparaiso, 5-4, Wednesday afternoon at Emory G. Bauer Field. The Huskies are now 12-16 on the year after seeing their three-game non-conference winning streak end.
The Huskies scored first when a Jordin Hood hit (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Lake Zurich) brought home Bobby Stevens (Chicago/Guerin Prep), who led off the game with a double. Pat Minogue (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central) tripled home Justin Behm (Downers Grove, Ill./North) and Hood to make it 3-0.
After Valpo got a run of their own in the first, Dave Reynolds (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) answered with a double that plated Stevens in the second for a 4-1 advantage.
The Crusaders got back within a run in the third and took the lead at 5-4 when Nick Rodeghero drove in two with a RBI single in the fifth. From there, Valpo pitching held the Huskies in check to preserve a one-run victory.
"We just did not play well enough to win today," said head coach Ed Mathey. "Defensively, we didn't execute defensively very well and that will cost you in a close ballgame. We didn't make the plays we needed to make."
Stevens and Hood led the Huskies with two hits each while Minogue led with two RBI.
Brandon Copp (Aurora, Ill./West) started the game and worked on a pitch count, totaled 3.0 innings and tied his season-high with four strikeouts. Tom Zelasko (Lansing, Ill./Mt. Carmel) took the loss (0-1) for the Huskies.
Jon Gulbransen (1-4) earned the win and Rodeghero keyed the offense with three hits on the afternoon for Valparaiso (9-21).
Northern Illinois returns to MAC action with a three-game weekend series against Akron, beginning Friday. Friday and Saturday's games can be heard locally on WLBK-AM (1360) and worldwide on NIUHuskies.com.
HUSKIE TRACKS
-Bobby Stevens took over 10th place on the NIU career list for runs scored with 106.
-Nick Badgley recorded his first hit as a Huskie with a fourth-inning double.
-The Huskies recorded their fifth consecutive multi-stolen base game.
-Anthony Maziur recorded his first double of the season and his first since March 11, 2007 vs. Long Island.
