May 20, 2008
MAC Tournament Guide in PDF Format 
MAC Tournament Central
May 21-24: #4 NORTHERN ILLINOIS (26-24, 16-10) at 2008 MAC TOURNAMENT
Location: VA Memorial Stadium, Chillicothe, Ohio
Live Coverage: Listen to all games on WLBK (1360 AM) and NIUHuskies.com; MAC Live Stats via NIUHuskies.com.
Wednesday: vs. #5 Ball State, 3 p.m. CT
Thursday: vs. #1 Kent State or #8 Central Michigan, 11:30 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. CT
Friday/Saturday: TBD
Notes: Northern Illinois' No. 4 seed is its highest in tournament history ... The Huskies went 9-8 against the MAC Tournament field this season, including 2-0 vs. Ball State, 2-1 vs. top-seeded Kent State and 1-2 vs. Central Michigan ... NIU's third-place finish and 2-2 record at last season's MAC Tournament was its best in history ... Ed Mathey is 4-6 all-time in the MAC Tournament.
SHORT HOPS
- Northern Illinois set a school-record for best MAC winning percentage (.615) and earned its highest MAC Tournament seed in history (No. 4). NIU matched its highest MAC victory total (16) set last season and its second place West Division finish is the best since 2004 while the fourth-place overall finish is the school's best in 31 years.
- The Huskies' 16 MAC victories ties for the highest total in the league and includes two wins against each division winner, Kent State and Eastern Michigan.
- Four Huskies lead the MAC in nine statistical categories. Pitcher Trevor Feeney leads the MAC in overall complete games, conference wins, innings, starts and complete games. Closer Andy Deain leads the MAC in overall saves and appearances, outfielder Jeff Thomas leads the league in conference stolen bases, and pitcher Adam Holdenrid is tied for the lead in conference starts.
- Bobby Stevens has a school-record 25 HBPs this season and 43 for his career, a total that has him two away from becoming NIU's all-time leader. In the last week's NCAA national rankings, Stevens was fourth with an average of 0.5 HBP/per game and sixth in total HBPs.
- Northern Illinois completed its fifth walk-off win in the opening game of the final regular season series vs. Western Michigan. Trailing by seven runs, the Huskies scored five times in the eighth and three times in the ninth for a 12-11 victory.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS' MAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Appearances: 5 (2000, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008)
All-Time Record: 4-8 (.333)
Best Finish: 3rd (2-2), 2007
All-Tournament Selections: 2003- Joe Mazzuca, IF; 2004- Eric Sansouci, OF; 2007- Matt German, P
HOMEGROWN TALENT
Northern Illinois has 24 Chicagoland natives on its 2008 roster, the highest concentration of Chicago-area players (83 percent) of any Division I school in Illinois. The Huskies have 26 players (90 percent) who hail from the Land of Lincoln and three non-Illinois natives who all originate from different states, including Minnesota and representation from the "sunshine states" of California and Florida.
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
Shortstop Bobby Stevens has been hit by pitch a school-record 25 times this season and 43 in his career, a total that has him two away from becoming the school's all-time leader. In the NCAA's May 11 national rankings, Stevens was fourth in average per game (0.50) and sixth in overall HBP. He compiled a statistical anomaly by being hit in eight consecutive games (April 6-19).
DOUBLING UP
With 20 doubles, Danny Reed ranks third on the Northern Illinois single season list, four shy of the school-record set by Scott Simon in 2004. Reed's total places him 58th nationally with an average of 0.39 per game. The senior rightfielder has more than doubled his doubles total from a year ago, when he hit nine in 56 games. Reed is just a pair of two-baggers away from reaching the school's career top-10 list.
THOU SHALT STEAL
Northern Illinois leads the MAC with 78 stolen bases in 50 games and 44 steals in 26 league contests. In the most recent NCAA rankings, NIU was 55th nationally with 1.59 steals per game and its season total of 73 placed them 63rd in the country. The Huskies compiled a streak of 12 consecutive games with a stolen a base (March 28-April 18) and 10 straight games with multiple steals (April 2-April 18). Five different NIU players have 10 or more stolen bases, and four rank among the MAC's top 10, led by Bobby Stevens' 19.
INNINGS EATER
Trevor Feeney leads the MAC with 7.56 innings per conference start, five league wins, and is tied for first with three complete games. The senior righthander went 6.0 innings or more in eight of nine MAC starts this season and 16 of his last 18 league starts. In addition, he ranks fourth on the Northern Illinois career innings list with 262.2. Feeney is second in the MAC with 7.28 innings per start in all games played.
STREAKERS
Four Northern Illinois players have compiled six hitting streaks of 10-plus games this season, led by Danny Reed's 17-game streak, the second-longest on record at NIU. Reed also notched a 12-game streak that ended in the next to last regular season game on May 16. Jeff Thomas twice put together career-long 12-game streaks during the year to join Reed as the other Huskie with two streaks of 10 or more games. Jordin Hood and Justin Behm each totaled career-best 15-game streaks, nearly simultaneously, that ended during the May 2-4 series vs. Central Michigan.
LAND OF LINCOLN LEADERS
Northern Illinois is one of just three Division I Illinois schools to post three 30-plus win seasons in the past five years (with Southern Illinois and Illinois-Chicago). Along the way, the Huskies have made a habit of winning their games against intrastate opposition under Ed Mathey, compiling a sparkling 46-22 (.676) record since 2003 for the highest victory total of any Illinois team versus in-state opponents during that span. Over the past three seasons, NIU has a 24-8 (.750) record against Division I intrastate foes, including an 11-2 mark in 2006 when they notched wins over all seven Land of Lincoln opponents to claim the Illinois "state championship."
FIRST AND FOREMOST
Northern Illinois has scored 60 runs in the first inning this season (1.2 per game), 14 more tallies than any other frame, which accounts for 20 percent of its runs. The Huskies have scored in the first inning in 29 of 50 games this season while compiling a 17-12 record in those contests. NIU is 16-13 when scoring first in a game.
WALK (OFF) THIS WAY
The Huskies have five walk-off wins to their credit this season, most recently an amazing 12-11 victory on a wild pitch May 15 vs. Western Michigan. In that game, NIU trailed by seven runs before scoring five in the eighth and three in the ninth for the win. In April, the Huskies collected four of their walk-off wins, including three within a six-game stretch over a 10-day span, April 2-11. Jeff Thomas had the walk-off winner on a ninth-inning infield single April 5 against Kent State and repeated the feat three weeks later when a ninth-inning single lifted NIU to a 5-4 win over MAC leader Eastern Michigan on April 26. Jordin Hood posted the other two walk-off hits this season, a 10th-inning single April 2 vs. Milwaukee and a April 11 ninth-inning single against Akron.
ON A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL
Northern Illinois is playing games at six different professional ballparks this season with "tour stops" at Surprise (Ariz.) Stadium (Royals/Rangers Spring Training), Rent One Ballpark (Southern Illinois Miners/Marion, Ill.), Dr. Pepper Ballpark (Frisco Roughriders/Frisco, Texas), U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox), Elfstrom Stadium (Kane County Cougars) and VA Memorial Stadium (Chillicothe Paints/Chillicothe, Ohio). The Huskies hosted games vs. Notre Dame at "The Cell" and vs. UIC at Kane County.
HEAD OF THE CLASS
According to the Perfect Game Crosschecker recruiting rankings, Northern Illinois' 2008 high school signees are ranked No. 63 nationally, highest among any MAC or Illinois school. NIU's class is headlined by P Kyle Stroup (Ingleside, Ill.) and also includes P Zach Badgley (McHenry, Ill.), IF Alex Beckmann (Batavia, Ill.), C Brett Frantini (Minooka, Ill.), OF/P Jake Hermsen (New London, Wisc.), P Chuck Lukanen (Elgin, Ill.) and P Chris Wakefield (Cherokee, Ga.). During the spring, the Huskies signed P Kyle Glancy (Oak Park, Ill.), IF Alex Jones (Kansas City, Kan.) and IF/OF/C Nick Morreale (Vernon Hills, Ill.).
BATTLE TESTED
Northern Illinois has been anything but shy when it comes to scheduling the top programs in college baseball. This season the Huskies faced No. 25 Oklahoma, No. 29 Notre Dame and two teams receiving votes in the NCBWA poll (Texas-San Antonio and Dallas Baptist). During Ed Mathey's tenure, the Huskies have made trips to take on nationally-ranked foes Arizona State, Nebraska, Texas Tech and Florida Atlantic and future opponents include Mississippi State, Arizona State, Oregon State, Missouri, and USC in the next two seasons.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
The surname Badgley is synonymous with Northern Illinois baseball as outfielder/pitcher Nick becomes the third member of the family to don the Cardinal and Black. The latest Badgley was a junior college All-American last season and succeeds brothers Dan (1997-2001) and Mark (2003-07), who both pitched for the Huskies. Mark is currently in the Florida Marlins organization. Younger brother Zach signed a National Letter of Intent with Northern Illinois in November and will be a freshman on the 2009 team. All told, NIU has had a Badgley on the roster every season except one (2002) since 1997, a trend that could eventually span 16 seasons when the youngster brother, Zach, is scheduled to be a senior on the 2012 squad.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Ed Mathey has had 17 players sign professional contracts during his five seasons at Northern Illinois, including an active streak of five years with at least Major League affiliate signee. Most recently, pitchers Mark Badgley and Matt German signed with Florida Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies following the completion of their eligibility in 2007. Also signing professionally after his senior season a year ago was Scott Simon, who inked a contract in the independent Frontier League.
RECORD ATTENDANCE AT THE CELL
Northern Illinois baseball set a new single-game attendance record of 4,600 April 16 vs. Notre Dame at U.S. Cellular Field. The predominantly Huskie crowd topped the previous mark of 4,304 at Nebraska in 2005. All proceeds from the game at "The Cell" went to the NIU February 14 Scholarship Fund.
LEFTIST REBELS
Northern Illinois is hitting .327 against lefthanded pitching this season, over 40 points higher than its .266 average against righties. Two Huskie regulars are hitting over .400 against southpaws, Bobby Stevens with a team-best .463 average and Danny Reed at a .446 clip.
IN GOOD HANDS
Northern Illinois is fielding at a .963 clip through 50 games this season, the third-best percentage in the MAC. If continued, the Huskies' mark would set a new school record for fielding percentage, eclipsing the current standard of .962 set in 1959 and matched last season. NIU is 8-3 in its errorless games in 2008.
ETC.
A collection of random facts about Huskie personnel ... Head coach Ed Mathey is a member of the 2008 College Baseball Hall of Fame Voting Committee as the Midwest's "active coaches" regional representative ... Matt Behren, Pat Minogue, Brian Smith and Bobby Stevens were selected as 2008 team captains ... Dan Atkenson was recently named an All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete ... Joe Buonavolanto's parents own the popular "Buona Beef" restaurants in the Chicagoland area ... Brandon Copp, whose mother is a police officer (but does not have the last name Copp), wears the number "five-oh" ... Joe Etcheverry is the first Californian to play for the Huskies ... At 6'7" Zach Oates is the tallest Huskie player to take the field since 1980 ... Jeff Thomas is writing a blog titled "Out in Left Field" throughout the season on NIUHuskies.com.
THE RACE TO SIX
The Huskies are 16-4 (.800) this season when they score six or more runs in a game. Conversely, Northern Illinois is 10-20 (.333) when failing to reach six on the scoreboard. Ironically, NIU has allowed 10 or more runs in three MAC games this season and won all three contests.
OH, SO CLOSE
Northern Illinois has lost 11 games this season by two runs or less, including six in MAC play. Overall, the Huskies are 8-6 in one-run games and 3-5 in two-run contests in 2008.
SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALL RIGHT
Thanks in large part to four doubleheader sweeps, Northern Illinois is 9-3 in Saturday games this season, its highest win total of any day of the week this season.
NIU's 2008 Record by Day of the Week
Monday: 1-0, 1.000
Tuesday: 4-1, .800
Wednesday: 2-4, .333
Thursday: 1-3, .250
Friday: 4-5, .444
Saturday: 9-3, .750
Sunday: 3-8, .272
HOW SWEEP IT IS
The Huskies have swept five of their seven doubleheaders this season, including four of five in the MAC, most recently on May 10 at Ball State. NIU also claimed a twinbill sweep of East Division champion Eastern Michigan on April 26 and in its April 12 sweep of Akron, the Huskies scored 28 runs, marking the highest doubleheader run total against a Division I foe since 2001. The other two Huskie doubleheader sweeps this season have come on the road, at MAC foe Buffalo and at intrastate rival Southern Illinois.
THOMAS IS TOPS
Jeff Thomas leads the Huskies in hitting, doing so for almost the entire season, and enters the MAC Tournament with a .352 average, nearly 60 points higher than his previous best season. In nearly every significant statistical breakdown, Thomas can be found with the team's best batting average, including conference, non-conference, by month, and against the MAC Tournament field. Thomas "cooled" to a .339 average for his 16 games in April, the only month that he did not lead the team in hitting.
NO ORDINARY JOE
Joe Etcheverry tied the school record with five hits, a mark achieved only six times prior, April 23 vs. Illinois State. The freshman entered the game with four hits on the year and increased his batting average 174 points with his 5-for-5 performance.
UNCAGED DANIMAL
Senior pitcher Dan Atkenson more than doubled, and nearly tripled, his previous three-year career totals this season with 46.0 innings in 28 appearances as a key member of the Huskie pitching staff. One of the team's hardest workers, Atkenson entered the year with 12 appearances and 16.2 innings and has developed into a mainstay of the bullpen with a team-best 1.76 ERA and 3.9 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio. In a testament to his off the field work, Atkenson was named as a Strength and Conditioning All-American.
DOWNING THE VALLEY
The Huskies own a 22-15 (.595) record against Missouri Valley Conference opponents over the past six seasons, including a 4-3 (.500) mark in 2008. NIU has been .500 or better against MVC competition in every season since 2003 while facing Southern Illinois, Bradley, Illinois State and Northern Iowa during that stretch.
BIG TEN TRIUMPHS
With Northern Illinois' 5-4 victory over Iowa on March 26, head coach Ed Mathey improved to 7-5 against Big Ten opponents. The Huskies have won four of their last five games against Big Ten teams.
STAMPEDING BUFFALO
Northern Illinois set a school-record for MAC victory margin in its 17-1 rout of Buffalo on March 22. During the three-game series, NIU outscored the Bulls 33-8. Along the way, the Huskies maintained their perfect 12-0 all-time record against Buffalo.
GENTLEMEN AND SCHOLARS
Northern Illinois baseball continued its success in the classroom with a total of 13 players posting cumulative grade point averages of 3.0 or better through the fall. Pat Minogue and freshman Zach Oates and Tom Zelasko comprised the trio of players who earned Victory Scholar (3.5-4.0 GPA) recognition.
HALL OF FAME MATERIAL
The National College Baseball Hall of Fame requested a bat from former NIU standout Scott Simon (2003-07) to add to its memorabilia. Simon is the Mid-American Conference's all-time hit king with 318 and owns 10 Huskie career and season records.
WHITE SOX, ROYALS REACH OUT
As part of the Huskies season-opening trip to Arizona, the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals each honored the team prior to their Feb. 27 Cactus League openers. Head coach Ed Mathey and pitcher Trevor Feeney threw out the first pitch prior to the White Sox-Rockies game in Tucson as the Sox donned NIU baseball hats during the contest. In Surprise, senior outfielders Jeff Thomas and Danny Reed threw out the first pitch prior to the Royals-Rangers game and afterwards Kansas City manager Trey Hillman and former star Frank White spoke to the team.
SOX AUCTION RAISES $10,000
The White Sox auctioned NIU baseball items signed by a number of Sox players along with two additional autographed White Sox items with proceeds benefitting the NIU February 14 Scholarship Fund. The bids from fans for the six items totaled $7,091. Chicago White Sox Charities contributed another $2,909 for a total donation of $10,000.
